When DJ Bracken heard that Utah school children carry $2.8 million in school lunch debt, he said that number was “unfathomable” to him.

“I thought about my own kid and how what kind of situation would you have to be in if you’re not able to pay school lunch,” he said, adding it’s a “systemic issue.”

Bracken, a parent and coach in Jordan School District, decided to take action and begin a nonprofit organization, Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation, with the goal of paying off school lunch debt.

According to data published by FOX 13, Utah has $2.8 million in school lunch debt for 2024, nearly $1 million more than in 2023. Alpine School District has the second-highest amount in the state at $431,851. Nebo School District has $113,000 and Provo City School District has $52,850.

Provo City School District has the highest rate of children in poverty in the county, according to Utahns Against Hunger, with 16% of school-aged children in that category. Comparatively, 6% of school-aged children experience poverty in Nebo School District and 5% in Alpine School District.

With his own money, Bracken said he paid off the debt at Bluffdale Elementary and, since starting his nonprofit, has also paid off Oakcrest Elementary in West Jordan.

Shortly after starting his nonprofit, Bracken got in touch with Clint Bett, CEO of Silicon Slopes, who also had an interest in addressing the issue.

Betts told the Daily Herald that he was motivated to get involved after hearing about a West Haven boy who died of malnutrition. According to KSL, the school cafeteria workers had seen the boy eating out of the trash can and the employees started paying for the boy’s lunch until the parents requested they stop.

Silicon Slopes has now partnered with Bracken’s foundation to contribute all the net proceeds from monthly Silicon Slopes memberships to paying off school lunch debt for Utah families.

Betts said the tech nonprofit began the partnership last Friday and he intends to keep it going as long as it is needed or until another long-term solution is found.

“It’s kind of crazy, right? Like the stigma that’s attached to you not being able to afford lunch,” he said. “The fact that kids could potentially be turned away from school lunch because they have a negative balance.”

As of Friday, Bracken said his organization has been able to raise almost $10,000.

Bracken said the goal of the foundation is to permanently end school lunch debt with the hopes of finding a long-term solution.

He said that even if they managed to pay off the $2.8 million this year, there’s just going to be more debt accumulating if the root problem isn’t addressed.

To Bracken, $2.8 million is “pocket change” compared to other government spending. He cited the proposed new sports and entertainment district in downtown Salt Lake City, which could cost taxpayers up to $900 million.

Provo Rep. Tyler Clancy attempted to address the issue earlier this year by proposing a bill to appropriate $4 million to free lunch programs, but that bill ultimately failed, FOX 13 reported. During a food insecurity panel in June, Clancy indicated he would continue to address the issue.

Betts said he hopes to raise awareness of the issue and to reduce the stigma surrounding children and families experiencing food insecurity.

“We have to do something,” he said, adding that he believes “it’s not a hard problem to solve.”

According to Bracken, there is no reason to not ensure Utah kids are fed.

“I’ve heard arguments, for example, of people saying like, well, families will mooch off this, or parents will mooch off this,” he said. “Kids don’t mooch. They just want to eat.”

Newsletter