A megachurch in Florida recently paid off approximately $38,000 in lunch debts for students in two local public school districts as part of an effort to fight the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Idlewild Baptist Church, which has campuses in Tampa and Lutz, recently sent the checks paying for the lunch debts to Hillsborough County Public Schools and Pasco County Schools, respectively.
Yerusha Bunag, director of local missions at Idlewild, told The Christian Post that the charitable act was part of the church’s overall involvement in helping local public school students.
“Our church has been very invested in helping public schools in our community. Before COVID, we were involved in tutoring, mentoring, campus rejuvenation, student supplies, teacher appreciation events, etc.,” Bunag explained.
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Lutz church paying off nearly $40k of student lunch debt in Hillsborough, Pasco counties
Hillsborough County Schools
and last updated 2021-02-16 09:47:10-05
Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz is paying off student lunch debt for all juniors and seniors in Hillsborough County Public Schools, and all students K-12 in Pasco County Public Schools.
Idlewild is donating $21,367.33 to students in Hillsborough, and $17,000 to eliminate all lunch debt for students in Pasco, the school districts said.
Idlewildâs Sr. Pastor, Ken Whitten, says their church community wanted to let families in the area know they have support, even during these uncertain times. The church hopes this generous donation can be a source of hope during the pandemic.