PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Over 75% of school districts across the country have unpaid student school lunch debt, the School Nutritional Association Reports -- including the Prince George's County School District.
Prince George's County Public Schools is one of the nation's largest school districts, with 206 schools and centers, over 134,000 students and 22,000 employees. Many of its students face school lunch debt.
In order to relieve some of that debt, DARCARS Automotive Group is paying off the school lunch debt for every student in Prince George's County Public Schools.
Chief Operating Officer Jamie Darvish presented a $25,000 check to the nonprofit Excellence in Education Foundation for PGCPS Tuesday.
"School lunch debt is a serious problem in this country that impacts the well-being of students and their families," Darvish said in a press release. "As a member of the Prince George's County community, we at DARCARS felt it was our obligation to step up and help families in need."
DARCARS said when parents fall behind on lunch payments, the children are ultimately impacted. The automotive group is looking to fix this issue in different districts.
"By clearing school lunch debt, DARCARS Toyota is giving a special present this holiday season to the Excellence in Education Foundation for PGCPS, our students and their families," Monica Goldson, Prince George's County Public Schools CEO, said in the press release. "This donation will not only cover debt accumulated from the start of this school year, but help extend the community that surrounds Prince George's County Public Schools."