Joseph community raises over $3,000 to help cover unpaid lunch balances
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, January 25th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
JOSEPH – In times of hardship or financial strain, community members often band together to support one another, and Joseph Oregon is no different. With some families struggling to pay for school lunches following the pandemic, the Joseph school district has been rising to the occasion to help fill the deficit.
On Saturday, January 20, the district hosted the 2024 Child Nutrition Family Dinner & Dance, a community fundraiser event meant to cover the costs of unpaid lunch balances as well as pay for school kitchen improvements. Though the Joseph School District does offer free and reduced meals to qualified families, some are still struggling with the transition back to paid lunches and the end of the free lunch programs during Covid-19.
As such, the community is doing what they can to make up the difference with the Child Nutrition Family Dinner & Dance. The name is deceptively straightforward, however, as described by JSD Administrative Assistant Miranda Micka:
“This event is so much more than just a dinner and dance. Our entire community came together to support a great cause. Students also set up booths to display to the community during the social hour. It’s a wonderful showcase of everything Joseph School District has to offer: Fire Science, FFA, Art, Music, Book Club, FCCLA, Interact Club, Aviation, FBLA, and so much more.”
In total, the dinner and dance saw roughly 250 attendees this year and raised $3,312 dollars, compared to $2,500 dollars raised last year. All the funds went to pay back school lunch balances and cover kitchen improvements.
