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Indivisible Cobb Targets Eliminating Student Meal Debt
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Oct 1, 2025
Contact: Paul Caplan (pcaplan1776@gmail.com)
​Donation to Brumby Elementary First Step To Helping Cobb Families In Need
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​Marietta, GA - With the cutbacks on food assistance programs under the Trump administration, the number of children who can no longer access free/reduced rates lunches has grown.
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Of the 105,000+ students enrolled in Cobb County public schools, nearly 42% qualify for some sort of financial relief to pay for school lunches, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s most recent analysis. At the same time, the growth in economic disparity and skyrocketing costs are putting even more families at risk of not being able to provide a healthy lunch for their children.
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The members of Indivisible Cobb have made it their mission to "Wipe Out Student Lunch Debt" and have recently launched fundraising efforts to guarantee that all Cobb County students receive a nutritional meal regardless of their circumstances. Without exception and without shame.
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“Cobb County schools pride themselves on delivering above state average test scores and graduation rates,” said Stacey Parlotto, a member of Indivisible Cobb’s leadership team. “How can you expect students to focus with empty stomachs and bearing the shame of an empty luncheon tray?”
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To that end, today Indivisible Cobb delivered its first donation of $800 directly to Brumby Elementary school, substantially reducing the $2000 balance that has already accumulated in just the first two months of the school year. Funds were collected at meetings and events put on by Indivisible Cobb, as well as remotely via cash apps from their member base of over 2,100.
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The group plans to continue collecting money to help pay off school lunch debts and aims to donate to other Cobb County school as well. This effort is in conjunction with Indivisible Cobb's ongoing program of food collections and coordinated with the East Cobb YMCA Hunger Relief Program.
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“This donation to Brumby Elementary demonstrates how all of us can step up and mitigate the chainsaw this administration has taken to social programs desperately needed by so many families in Cobb County. We need our community to rally together and support our neighbors,” Parlotto added.
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L to R: Danielle Stone, Janet Habib (Indivisible Cobb member, volunteer with Y food program), Linda Faniel (food & nutrition services manager), Fran Cameron, Valeria Hunt.
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