The Local Store in downtown Eau Claire (205 N. Dewey St.) held a School Lunch Drive fundraiser during the first week of September in support of the Eau Claire Area School District’s “School Meal Help Fund.”
Throughout the first week of September (Sept. 1-7), customers – and any community members – could donate the average price of a school meal ($2.75) at the register, or online. Some individuals donated as many as 100 meals ($275) in a single transaction. The Local Store also pitched in over the weekend of Sept. 5-7 with all proceeds from food and drink sales at The Local Store added to the donation total.
“Since we’re not a store that sells traditional school supplies like notebooks, folders, and pens, we wanted to find a way to still support families during this busy time of year,” Director of The Local Store, Chloe VanDerLinden, said. “After reading an article written last year in Volume One about the School Meal Help Fund, we thought this could be a great way to give back.”
“I also want to give a shoutout to the Local Store staff who were on the front lines of this effort letting people know about the drive.”
As recently reported by WMTV in Madison, unpaid lunch debt in school districts across Wisconsin saw a significant increase between 2023 and 2025. Close to home, the Eau Claire Area School District saw a 15% rise in unpaid lunch debt during that time period.
Through The Local Store’s School Lunch Drive fundraiser, generous donators brought in a total of $2,367. That amounts to 860 student lunches, all covered by community donations.
“On behalf of our Eau Claire Area School District students and families, a sincere thank you to The Local Store and our community for their generosity and support of our School Meal Help Fund. We are truly thankful to all who donated,” said Lisa Smith, ECASD Director of Food and Nutrition.
