NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – A Nassau County woman was recently inspired to find a solution when she learned that thousands of children and teachers in the district carry debt from school lunch costs. A debt that totals around $200,000.
Ashley Dreher reached out to News4JAX to share her cause and spread the word.
She explained that while lunch debt does NOT mean teachers and children can’t eat, it DOES mean that they carry a financial burden, one she hopes to rally the community to lift for them.
Also, unpaid lunch debt can result in a student not being able to graduate.
“School lunch debt doesn’t come from neglect or irresponsibility; it comes from real life: rising grocery prices, unexpected medical bills, job changes, and the reality that many families live paycheck to paycheck,” Dreher wrote in a message to News4JAX. “Over time, those unpaid balances add up. And while the numbers may look like line items on a spreadsheet to some, they are a heavy weight to most.”
The 28-year-old military wife and mom of two started a GoFundMe campaign after being inspired by similar initiatives she discovered on social media. She has already raised about $800 through combined GoFundMe donations and direct contributions to the district.
“I follow a girl who actually does this as part of her foundation,” Dreher said. “I was like, ‘Well, might as well just do it myself.’”
The campaign highlights a broader issue of food insecurity in Nassau County.
According to a Feeding America study, over 11,700 residents face food insecurity, including 3,000 children — who represent 16% of the county’s population. These numbers have shown an upward trend year over year.
Dreher remains committed to the cause: “I’m going to keep doing it until people keep listening.”
Community members can support the initiative by:
- Donating to Dreher’s GoFundMe campaign
- Donating directly to the school district to support lunch accounts or food services. You can reach the district at 904-491-9924. Trevor Kennedy is the Food Services Director.
- Sponsoring a specific school or student. When writing out checks to donate, you can specify if there is a specific school or student you’d like to help.
- Spreading awareness and encourage conversations around the increasing issue of school lunch debt within our county
Dreher said every contribution adds up, and shared a photo of her first $350 check to the district on the GoFundMe page.
“As promised, even with GoFundMe fees - I still intend to make the full donated amount, and I myself will cover these fees so the community can be assured every dollar they donate will go to the district,” Dreher wrote in an update on the page.
Dreher said that, along with the stress of carrying school lunch debt, the negative balances can create other problems down the line, like affecting graduation status for seniors.
“Together, we can ensure that every child and every educator in our county has one less worry — one full meal at a time," Dreher wrote. “Together, we can start the new year with hope and a clean slate for everyone.”