Auburn Public Schools Foundation Launches Lunch Fund to Help Students in Need

Superintendent David Patton said many district families continue to struggle with unpaid lunch balances, creating stress for both students and parents. The new fund is designed to directly cover the cost of school meals for students whose families are unable to pay. 
“Right now, about 42% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Every child deserves the chance to learn without worrying about something as basic as their next meal,” Patton said, as his computer alerted him to conversations on possible severe weather. “Weighing whether to close school on a Friday might mean a student doesn’t get a hot meal again until Monday. That’s a heavy consideration alongside student safety.”
Patton emphasized that combating food insecurity is part of a broader effort to make schools welcoming and supportive for all students.
“We want to do everything we can to make sure our schools are inclusive and reach all students. Everything from after school programs to activities like eSports can make a student’s experience richer. Combating food insecurity is just one part of that,” he said.
He also encouraged parents to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch forms provided at the start of the school year or at enrollment.
“Those forms determine a lot when it comes to qualifying for grants for intervention programs, childcare or after school programs. The rate changes annually, so qualifying families may change as well,” Patton said.
According to the foundation, donations to the School Lunch Fund are used exclusively to offset lunch costs for students in need. Even small contributions can have a significant impact: $20 can provide lunches for a student for a week, $80 can cover approximately a month of meals, and larger donations can help multiple students.
Foundation members note that hunger can affect a student’s ability to concentrate, participate in class and succeed academically. By eliminating meal-related worries, the foundation hopes to remove a barrier to learning and support students’ overall well-being.
Patton expressed gratitude for the community’s ongoing support.
“We truly appreciate everything this community does to support students. A great example is the Backpack Program, which does so much to fill the gap of food insecurity. It’s used more often by elementary students, but it’s available to everyone enrolled in our schools. Combating food insecurity is a huge priority,” he said.
The Auburn Public Schools Foundation is encouraging community members to contribute to the fund. Donations may be made in person or by mail at the Auburn Central Office, 1713 J Street, or electronically through the foundation’s Venmo account, @AuburnPublicSchoolsFoundation.
Seth Bingham, treasurer for the APS Foundation, said approximately $4,500 has been donated to the fund since its inception in November 2025.