Dining with Dignity

Forsyth County Schools' Food and Nutrition Services Department is a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is responsible for providing a safety net for Americans who are food insecure and for developing and promoting dietary guidance based on scientific evidence. As a federal program, when a student has an unpaid meal balance that exceeds a specific threshold, they receive an alternative meal.

Dining with Dignity was launched in 2019. Donations are placed in the school's cafeteria account to provide students with a meal of their choice rather than a cheese sandwich. At the end of the school year, the funds in the account pay negative balances on student accounts. Any funds remaining in the account will roll over to the next school year to assist additional students.

Please note that if you are interested in "paying off a school's lunch debt," these figures change daily. Many of these debts are incurred by a parent or guardian and are often settled by the end of the school year. When a school's lunch debt is paid off before the end of the school year, the children in need often reach the charge limit again, thus receiving an alternative meal. Providing a donation allows students to Dine with Dignity by selecting a meal of their choice.

To make your tax-deductible donation to the Dining with Dignity program:

• Click here to make an online donation.
• Mail/deliver your check or money order to the Forsyth County Education Foundation, 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, GA 30040. In the subject line please write Dining with Dignity and the name of the school.

Thank you for your generous support of our students! For additional information, contact Hannah Samples.