Meal Debt Support Program

Organization: Fauquier Education Foundation in partnership with Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS) School Nutrition Department

Program Overview:
A unique partnership program providing critical assistance to families facing unforeseen challenges who don't qualify for free and reduced-price meals but cannot afford school meal costs. Funds are disbursed twice per year for fair distribution based on available funding and number of qualified applicants.

Purpose:

• Addresses gap in federal school nutrition funding
• Provides solution for families experiencing temporary hardship (job loss, unexpected medical expenses, etc.)
• Helps accumulating meal debt when families cannot afford school meals

Eligibility:

• Fauquier County Public Schools families
• Must not qualify for free and reduced-price meals under federal guidelines
• Experiencing financial hardship preventing them from affording school meal costs
• Require application approval process

Funding:

• $25,000 grant from PATH Foundation (2025) for first-year program funding
• Public donations also accepted and welcome
• Funds applied directly to approved applicant meal debt

Geographic Scope: Fauquier County Public Schools, Virginia only

Why This Program:

• FCPS School Nutrition Department is federally funded and unable to use operational funds to pay off student meal debt
• Federal requirements mandate schools feed all children but prohibit using federal funds for debt reduction
• Program fills critical gap in community support

Contact Information:

• Email: info@FauquierEducationFoundation.org
• Phone: (703) 407-3984
• Address: PO Box 512, Warrenton, VA 20188
• Website: fauquiereducationfoundation.org

Application Process

Submission Method:

• Family application (specific process not detailed in available materials)
• Coordination with FCPS School Nutrition Department

Eligibility Requirements:

• Family must not qualify for free and reduced-price meals under federal guidelines
• Family must demonstrate financial hardship preventing affiliation of school meal costs
• Application approval required

Fund Distribution:

• Funds disbursed twice per year
• Distribution based on:
  • Available funding amount
  • Number of qualified applicants

Upon Approval:

• Funds applied directly to family's meal debt

Future Giving Options (Being Developed):

• "Feed a Student for a Year" focused giving option
• Other focused giving opportunities

Note: Detailed application forms and step-by-step instructions should be obtained directly from FCPS School Nutrition Department or Fauquier Education Foundation.