In multiple Hamilton County high schools, dozens of students are not able to charge lunch or breakfast because of accumulated meal debt.

School board policy prevents high schoolers from charging meals when debt has increased to more than $40.

"We currently have 72 high school students that owe [more than] $37," said Kristen Nauss, director of nutrition for Hamilton County schools.

"Their meal debt collectively totals $2,808."

Hundreds of other students also owe accumulated meal debt. The current total for the 2025-26 school year?

"$32,838," said Nauss.

How many students are affected?

"1,556," she said.

Roughly one-third of those families owe less than $5, suggesting busy schedules and long to-do lists. We just forgot to add money to his account, families tell Nauss. It's understandable.

Yet, students with larger debt suggests another reality.

"Families experiencing more significant financial challenges," she said.

In Hamilton County schools, a student lunch costs $3. Breakfast? Only $2.

Of the county's 68 schools, 47 schools participate in a federally-funded program that allows free and reduced meal costs.

The remaining 21 schools, however, do not. The student demographics don't necessarily qualify for school-wide participation in the program, yet, every family is allowed — and encouraged, Nauss would add — to apply for free-and-reduced meals.

Each time they eat, students have the option of charging their meals.

Board policy dictates that K-8 students won't be turned away from meals no matter how high their debt. Nauss and her team are generous, kind and patient, but still must operate within board-dicated parameters.

When high school students accumulate more than $40 debt?

They aren't allowed to charge meals.

That's why Sydney Guerrette, 24, is working so hard.

"We have a goal to raise $40,000," she said.

On Nov. 12, Sydney's nonprofit Be The Change Youth Initiative — yes, she's launched her own community-focused nonprofit — will host a beautiful fundraiser.

It's called Empty Bowls Chattanooga.

"This annual community event is more than a dinner," the folks at Empty Bowls say. "It's a creative call to action to fight food insecurity among students and families in Hamilton County."

The goal: $40,000 raised, with $25,000 going straight to pay down the largest meal debts for county families.

The remainder? Be The Change Youth Initiative will direct it to community partners who are fighting food insecurity.

"Guests receive a handcrafted bowl made by a local artist. Paired with delicious soups, bread, salad, dessert and drinks, it's the perfect mix of art and appetite," according to Empty Bowls.

There are two ways to attend or help.

• General admission tickets cost $75 and include a handmade bowl, all that delicious food and two drink tickets.
• Table tickets cost $750 and include eight tickets plus a VIP cocktail hour.
• Tickets can be found here.

Our friends from Mac's Kitchen & Bar plus Niedlov's Bakery & Cafe, Spice Trail, Carving Rock Kitchen, Nothing Bundt Cakes and new partners Hungry Mother, Keystone and Southern Squeeze will be serving.

Can't make the event?

You can also donate to a larger fund which directs 100% of all its to Hamilton County school debt.

The current debt exceeds $33,000. In comparison, the debt at the end of last school year was $54,000.

"It's jarring," said Sydney. "There's a great need."

Sydney is remarkable, the type of Chattanoogan whose name we all need to know. Young, daring, faithful — she began her activism as a young girl in Maine, when she began shifting birthdays so that gifts went to those in need.

Make-A-Wish. Food banks.

"Your birthday isn't always about you," she said. "How can you use your time to help others?"

In 2020, she and her family formalized the nonprofit idea that had been brewing for years. Be The Change Youth Initiative became a reality when the Guerrettes moved here from Maine.

Be The Change Youth Initiative was designed to encourage other young people to activate their own sense of empowerment, allowing them to engage with civic and social issues in their community.

"As long as I live, I want to engage in something impactful to other youth," said Sydney.

Two years ago, Be The Change Youth Initiative leaders were meeting with student ambassadors. As an act of empowerment, the question was presented: what are the topics you want to tackle and address? What areas do you care most about?

"We wanted to connect them with resources and other leaders," said Sydney. "To give them the tools to better advocate for different initiatives."

One of the students — Gwyneth Parks — spoke up: I want to pursue food insecurity. I want to know more about how this affects students in our community.

"By hearing and seeing the statistics for Hamilton County food debt, and realizing how prevalent this problem is within my own community, I wanted to dig in deeper and learn about an issue that impacts my own community and impacts kids within my age bracket," she said.

"Be The Change taught me how prevalent this issue is within our own community, but also, how spreading the word and educating others can aid the issue. Advocacy toward a resolution has allowed so many more people to learn about food debt, and from advocacy stems initiatives that allow our community to come together and find solutions."

Soon, Be The Change Youth Initiative met with Kristen. Both groups became immediate friends and set out to work well together.

"The donations go towards paying down families' meal debt," said Kristen. "What's great about Empty Bowls is it happens going into the holiday seasons. It helps take pressure off families going into the holidays."

When families qualify for reduced meals, the price of breakfast drops to 30 cents. Lunch is reduced to 40 cents.

Recently, Nauss spoke to a family for whom even paying that was difficult.

Consider a donation to Empty Bowls by clicking here.

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This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

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