On September 12, Assistance League of Austin (ALA) presented Leander Independent School District with a $15,000 check to help cover school lunch debt balances. Healthy meals support a strong educational experience, and ALA’s donation eases the financial burden of school lunch debt on families so that students can eat and learn each school day.
ALA President Linda Noy said that the nonprofit’s mission is to support children and their families in ways that transform their lives and strengthen the community. Reducing the stress of school lunch debt is the perfect opportunity to fulfill that mission.
“During our 50th anniversary year we are setting aside special gifts to reduce or eliminate school lunch debt for surrounding school districts,” Noy said. “Our goal is that children are fed and ready to learn and that the district is able to focus funding in other areas to ensure the academic success of their students.”
Representatives from ALA, LISD Child Nutrition Services (CNS) and the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) were present for the receipt of this generous donation, along with Superintendent Bruce Gearing and Trustee Francesca Romans.
LISD’s Senior Executive Director of Operations Brandon Evans expressed the district’s appreciation for this contribution.
“We are incredibly grateful to Assistance League of Austin for their generous donation to LISD. This contribution not only helps alleviate school lunch debt but also supports the overall well-being and educational experience of our students and their families,” Evans said. “We truly appreciate ALA’s commitment to making a difference in our community.”
ALA is a volunteer-run organization that was founded 50 years ago with 42 members. Today, the organization boasts over 350 members, and ALA volunteers have amassed over 1.4 million volunteer hours and served hundreds of thousands of Austin-area residents.
This donation is a result of LEEF’s ongoing partnerships with local businesses, organizations and nonprofits, including ALA.
