No student on the brink of graduating high school wants to find out that they can’t get their diploma because they’re in debt.
Fortunately for Plant City-area students, the local Elks Club was able to help students overcome their financial burdens.
The Plant City Elks Club donated a total of $2,691.26 to area schools this year for the purpose of clearing student lunch debts. The gesture was made during a Wednesday, May 3, dinner ceremony at the Plant City Elks Lodge No. 1727, 1501 N. Alexander St., where representatives from 15 schools received checks ranging from $49.06 to $335.50.
Marty Carroll, the Plant City Elks’ Exalted Ruler, said that the gesture was intended to help fight the “lunch shaming” phenomenon.
“Other kids look at it (a reduced lunch plan), and I think they sort of discriminate a little bit,” Carroll said. “We wanted to help.”
The idea was born at the Elks’ Wild Game Cookout, held in February. The bar had generated $285 in tips, and Carroll said that Larry and Virginia Therington were the first to propose the idea of paying off school lunch debt.
Many members were shocked.
“(It was) very surprising,” Carroll said. “Most of us knew nothing about this lunch program. We didn’t realize that if a kid gets all the way to the end and still has a bill, he doesn’t graduate.”
That $285 went to clear Marshall Middle School’s debts, but the Elks weren’t about to stop there.
“We learned a little bit more about the program,” Carroll said. “We had grants available to us, and this was a good cause, so we applied for our grant in late March. We got the money.”
The Elks were able to come up with $2,266.26 in grant money, which was pushed out to 13 area elementary, middle and high schools. Plant City High School also received a $140 donation, which was made in memory of the late David Miller. His wife, Emma Miller, spoke at the Wednesday, May 3, dinner.
“He loved Plant City, and he believed that young people were the future,” Emma Miller said.
In addition to the Elks and school representatives, the dinner was attended by Area 6 Superintendent Sharon Morris and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Larry Sykes, as well as City Commissioner Mike Sparkman.
“I thought (the gesture) was great,” Sparkman said. “I wasn’t aware of that type of program.”
Going forward, Carroll said that the Elks plan to continue applying for grants and raising money to help area schools clear students’ lunch debt.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.