Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee recently received a grant of $16,892 from the Arby’s Foundation to help alleviate student lunch debt. The foundation, with a focus on combating childhood hunger, has pledged $500,000 to support approximately 200 communities where Arby’s restaurants are located.
Expressing gratitude for the assistance, Hawkins County Director of Schools Matt Hixson conveyed during a meeting with the Hawkins County Board of Education on March 7, “Hawkins County Schools are humbled by the foundation’s choice to address this need, which otherwise would have strained district budget resources. The Arby’s Foundation has shown exceptional generosity in addressing a need often overlooked by others, and we are immensely grateful.”
The challenge of outstanding student lunch debt extends beyond Hawkins County. According to 2024 data from the Education Data Center, at the state level, Tennessee faces a staggering $51,610,062 in student lunch debt, affecting approximately 285,770 food-insecure students. However, this recent grant offers some relief amidst legislative challenges.
Tennessee Republicans Blocked Free School Meal Bill; Arby’s Helps Pay Student Lunch Debt (Credits: WOWT)
In November, Republican Representative John Ragan contended that federal funds aimed at feeding children from low-income families should only be accepted if they demonstrably improve academic performance.
“The question that is, in the top of my mind, is how — we get this money that’s supposedly aimed at the most needy students and the lowest performing students,” Ragan remarked in a video clip shared by The Tennessee Holler. “What’s the measure of improvement? For this money coming in? How much has it improved the performance of these students?”
The Associated Press reported in February that fourteen GOP-led states declined federal funds designated for feeding low-income children during the summer.
Reasons cited included philosophical objections to welfare programs, technical challenges stemming from outdated computer systems, and concerns about the inclusion of other summer nutrition programs. Tennessee opted into the Summer EBT program for 2024 but does not intend to continue participation in 2025.
