Photo courtesy Joel WeckerlyCy-Fair ISD officials hosted an event April 17 to announce the launch of the Lunch Super Hero Account, designed to help pay off student lunch debts.
Photo by Shawn ArrajjKenny Thompson (left), also known as the "lunch angel," made the initial $1,000 donation to the new fund. Director of Food Services Darin Crawford (center) and Godfrey Hubert, vice president of the Cy-Hope board of directors, also spoke at the event.
Cy-Fair ISD is looking to eliminate the alternative lunch program throughout the district with the help of community partners and the establishment of a Lunch Super Hero Account. District officials met with partners—Feed the Future Forward, Cy-Hope and the Cy-Fair School Food Service Association—April 17 to announce the program.
The Super Hero Account, which thrives on donations, was inspired by several donations made to the district by Kenny Thompson, also known as the "lunch angel." Thompson, who founded the nonprofit Feed the Future Forward in February, has made it a goal to help students who have exceeded the credit limit on their lunch accounts and are unable to pay.
"I can tell you first hand what a difference this is going to make to our kids," he said. "[Student lunch debt] is an issue in schools, and I am so proud to be a part of Cy-Fair putting an end to it."
Thompson has done work throughout the city of Houston, but targeted CFISD with several recent donations. He donated $965.67 to pay off 158 past-due lunch accounts at Horne Elementary in February. In March, he donated another $673.94 to pay off 128 accounts at Matzke Elementary while providing an additional $50 for future debts.
After news of Thompson's generosity broke out, nine other schools in the district reported receiving donations—most of which were anonymous—to help pay off lunch debts. District officials saw an opportunity to create a partnership and scheduled a meeting with Thompson, Director of Food Services Darin Crawford said.
"[Kenny] came in from outside our district and showed a lot of love and support to our students," Crawford said. "We were very touched by what he was doing. We thought, 'why have accounts at every school when we can have one big account for all schools?' We have hungry kids at every school."
Thompson kicked off the new fund with a $1,000 donation. The Cy-Fair School Food Service Association, made up of school lunch professionals in CFISD, joined in with an additional $2,000 donation.
"Our goal is the same as Kenny's: to feed kids," said Crawford, a CFSFSA member. "We have support at every level. I think, with that support, we are going to do great things."
Cy-Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to making life better for CFISD students, is also on board with the new fund and has plans to donate. Cy-Hope runs its own weekend backpack program, delivering eight tons of food to more than 2,000 students at 72 schools every weekend.
Godfrey Hubert, vice president of Cy-Hope's board of directors, spoke at the April 17 event about the future partnership.
"I think the point for change in our society is when for profit, nonprofit, public schools and faith-based organizations all work together for one common end," he said. "We're going to be there for the school district on this level. We will partner in a substantive way."
Community members who wish to donate to the Lunch Super Hero Account can do so through a donation form on the district's website. Donations can also be made in person at the Food Production Center at 11355 Perry Road, or at any CFISD cafeteria.
