WILLIAMSBURG — A Williamsburg-based business is stepping in to help local students start the new year without the burden of unpaid school lunch bills.
La Tienda, an online retailer and restaurant specializing in Spanish food and culture, donated $5,000 to help relieve outstanding student lunch debt in Williamsburg–James City County Public Schools, according to CEO Tim Harris. The donation was made through the Williamsburg Community Foundation and applied quickly to ensure students could return to school after winter break with a “clean slate.”
Harris said he first learned about the issue through a neighborhood Facebook page, where a post noted that a woman who had anonymously helped pay student lunch debt for years had passed away.
“I first wanted to figure out what it was, and second of all, figure out if we could help,” Harris said.
While La Tienda has long supported food insecurity efforts in the community, Harris said he was unaware of student lunch debt until recently. He noted that many affected students are not eligible for free lunch programs.
“It turns out that the kids who are affected are not the ones on free lunch. They’re on reduced lunch,” Harris said. “These kids would end up in debt because they wouldn’t have enough money to get enough food to eat.”
Harris said the issue raised concerns not only about hunger, but also about stigma.
“God forbid that their collection notice is going out to these kids and all they’re looking to do is to have a good lunch at school,” he said. “For a lot of kids, that might be the best meal they get all day.”
The donation was coordinated with the Williamsburg Community Foundation, which connected La Tienda with school district officials. Harris said the school system was receptive and helped facilitate the gift quickly.
“They were amazing. They were very receptive,” Harris said. “They facilitated the gift, so it happened quickly.”
Harris emphasized that the donation is not intended as a one-time gesture. He said La Tienda plans to continue monitoring the situation and supporting students while also learning more about the policies that contribute to recurring lunch debt.
“Unfortunately, I would imagine that they’ll be right back in debt without us looking more carefully at what’s happening,” Harris said. “In the meantime, we absolutely are going to continue to support these kids until we come up with a solution that is permanent.”
Harris said access to nutritious meals plays a critical role in a child’s ability to learn and feel supported at school.
“Study after study has shown how important nutrition is to learning,” he said. “There’s also a piece that gets overlooked, which is the social stigma that can be attached to kids that have to advocate for themselves to get enough food to eat.”
As a local business, Harris said La Tienda feels a responsibility to respond when community needs arise.
“One of the things that animates us as business owners is our ability to support not only our employees, but also our community,” he said. “It’s part of what makes this a very fulfilling job.”
Harris said he hopes the donation helps raise awareness and encourages broader community involvement.
