$60,000 lunch debt paid by donor

Students at Aurora Public Schools had thousands of dollars worth of lunch debt, but a large donation has balanced the district’s lunch ledger books.

Canvas Credit Union CEO Todd Marksberry delivered a large check to Lansing Elementary School Wednesday in the amount of $60,000 to pay the debt of students who couldn't pay for their school meals, KMGH reported.

Eighteen schools in the district are listed as Title I. At Lansing, about 6% of families are homeless, the Denver Post reported.

Eight-five percent of kids at Lansing Elementary alone are on either free or reduced lunch, KMGH reported.

"They can't feed or clothe their children right now, so they rely on this assistance to help get them through the day," Principal Jennifer Murtha told the Denver Post.

The money will pay the debt at all of the Title I schools in the district, the newspaper reported.

Not only is the debt paid, but the windfall has also helped families in other unexpected ways. Because they don't have the lunch bill looming, parents told KMGH they will be able to pay rent or even have Christmas gifts.

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