An online fundraiser started in memory of Philando Castile has raised more than enough to pay off the St. Paul Public Schools' entire school lunch debt.
As of Monday afternoon, donations to Philando Feeds the Children had passed the $155,000 mark — and the fundraiser's founder said she hopes to expand the effort to other school districts.
That money already has been used to clear the $45,000 debt of nearly 1,800 St. Paul students enrolled in the federal school lunch program as of last month, district officials said. And Pamela Fergus said the fund will cover the school district's remaining debt — up to $57,000 — for students who owe money once they sign up for the federal program.
"I'm not going to stop this," said Fergus, who teaches at both Metropolitan State University and Inver Hills Community College. "Actual activism — this is pretty new to me and it fits."
The project, Fergus' brainchild, was launched in the weeks after Castile was fatally shot by a St. Anthony police officer during a traffic stop in 2016.
Students in Fergus' diversity and ethics class at Metropolitan State started the YouCaring.com fundraiser in memory of Castile, a nutrition supervisor at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet in St. Paul. Their goal was to raise $5,000.
Last fall, Fergus delivered $10,000 in online donations to J.J. Hill toward that school's outstanding lunch debt. A week ago, Fergus dropped off a $35,000 check to the school district, with more money yet to come.
The $45,000 total wipes clear the debt of all 1,788 St. Paul students enrolled in the federal school lunch program as of Feb. 2, officials said. As of Monday, more than 4,000 people had donated to the online fundraiser.
