Alexandria Church Wipes Out $41,100 in Student Lunch Debt
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s gift is expected to clear outstanding meal balances for approximately 820 Alexandria families—and the congregation hopes its generosity will inspire others.
ALEXANDRIA, VA — A local church is making sure hundreds of Alexandria families can begin the next school year without unpaid school meal balances hanging over them.
Representatives of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church visited Alexandria City Public Schools headquarters on July 16 to present a $41,100 check to eliminate student lunch debt across the school division.
Vicar Carrie Pritts and church Treasurer Denise Gray delivered the donation to ACPS Chief of Staff Dr. Grace Taylor. They were joined by Dustin Senger, an ACPS food and nutrition financial analyst, and Taneika Taylor Tukan, ACPS assistant director of school engagement and community partnerships.
For the congregation, the unusually large gift grew directly from its guiding message: “Building a Bigger Table.”
“This spring, our congregation decided to live out our faith by expanding our mission to the school lunch table,” Pastor Kate Costa said. “It’s a joy to share what God has given us with others, especially those most in need.”
A Gift Expected to Help About 820 Families
ACPS officials are still finalizing year-end figures, but the school division’s Office of School Nutrition Services told the church that the average outstanding household lunch balance is approximately $50.
At that average, the $41,100 donation could erase meal debt for roughly 820 Alexandria households.
The gift also underscores the connection between nutrition and learning. The ACPS Office of School Nutrition Services serves more than 15,000 students each day and describes access to balanced meals as an important part of students’ academic achievement and classroom performance.
Although eligible households can apply for free or reduced-price meals, unpaid balances can still accumulate when families experience financial hardship, encounter eligibility gaps or fall behind on meal-account payments.
By paying the balances collectively, Good Shepherd’s congregation is offering hundreds of families a fresh start—without identifying individual children or asking them to seek assistance separately.
Hoping One Gift Inspires Another
Church leaders said they wanted to publicize the donation not to draw attention solely to Good Shepherd, but to encourage other congregations, businesses, organizations and individuals to consider making similar gifts.
“We want to get the word out to inspire others to do likewise,” Pritts said.
ACPS accepts financial and in-kind contributions through its official online donations page. The school division says using the online form allows staff members to direct gifts to the appropriate school or department, properly track each contribution and provide donors with acknowledgment letters for tax purposes.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has served the Alexandria area for more than 80 years through worship, education and community service. The congregation, located in Del Ray, has more than 300 members and is affiliated with the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is also a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
Information about the church, its ministries and worship schedule is available at gslutheran.net.
For hundreds of Alexandria families, the congregation’s “bigger table” now stretches all the way from the church to the school cafeteria.
