Utah students are falling behind — not in the classroom, but in the lunch line.
New data obtained by FOX 13 shows that in 2025 school lunch debt across the state has grown to more than $3.6 million — up 31% from last year.
Since FOX 13 launched the Erase Lunch Debt initiative in 2023, the need has only gotten worse. In fact, lunch debt has jumped 91% in just two years.
FOX 13 data on school lunch debt since 2023
For many families, this isn’t about forgetting to pay — it’s about trying to make ends meet. And for kids, lunch debt can mean missed meals, added stress, and a sense of shame. It’s a quiet crisis unfolding in Utah school cafeterias every day.
That’s why FOX 13 is stepping up and inviting you to be part of the solution.
Your tax-deductible donation will help cover the cost of meals for students whose families can’t afford to pay. It’s a simple way to bring relief to parents and make sure kids can stay focused on learning — not hunger.
Thanks to the Scripps Howard Fund, your gift will go twice as far. They’re matching all donations up to $10,000.
Want to help? Just fill out the donation form above or text LUNCHDEBT to 50155.
Every donation makes a difference. Let’s come together and lift this burden off Utah’s students — one meal at a time.
This campaign is a Fox 13 initiative in collaboration with the Scripps Howard Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to this campaign will be used to support the Utah community and are tax deductible.
