Alessandra Ferrara-Miller, founder of All for Lunch, a Georgia group that pays off debts so students don't have their meal trays taken away from them, speaks on the issue.

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A corporate donor is eliminating about $200,000 in school lunch debt for students in four Metro Atlanta school districts.

According to a press release, the donation included $88,000 to City Schools of Decatur, $73,273 to Cobb County School District, $35,000 to Henry County School District and $7,261 to the Fulton County School District. The donation affects approximately 7,300 students. 

The Arby's Foundation announced the gift Thursday after reports that about 700 students in Decatur City Schools soon would receive cheese sandwiches instead of regular meals at lunch.

Alessandra Ferrara-Miller founded All for Lunch, a Georgia group that pays off debts so students don't have their meal trays taken away from them.

"There is a certain level of shame and embarrassment that comes with that," she said. "And you think some of these kids are as young as 5 years old in kindergarten."

Ferrara-Miller said schools statewide are coping with the end of pandemic-era federal funding that boosted school nutrition.

Tags: Atlanta  Georgia  Decatur  SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT  School lunch  A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood  Education