Sarah Stusek, a 35-year-old content creator from Alexandria, Va., has documented her efforts to clear overdue school lunch balances on TikTok since 2022. Using viewer donations and personal funds when necessary, she has paid off $75,681.55 for families across the U.S. Stusek prioritizes direct messages from students, coordinates with school staff, and hopes to scale her one-person nonprofit until universal free school lunches become a reality.
Creator Pays Off Over $75K in School Lunch Debt After Children’s Pleas — ‘As Long As I’m Needed’
Sarah StusekSarah Stusek smiles at the camera
When a student sends a direct message asking for help, Sarah Stusek rarely hesitates. The 35-year-old content creator, freelance video producer and nonprofit founder from Alexandria, Va., has spent the last several years turning those pleas into action — and raising public awareness along the way.
Since she began documenting the effort on TikTok in 2022, Stusek has helped clear $75,681.55 in overdue school lunch accounts across the U.S., using a mix of viewer donations and her own funds when donations fall short. She also runs a production company, Stusek Studios, and says her mission is rooted in a childhood of community service with groups such as Happy Helpers for the Homeless, the SPCA and ALIVE! in Alexandria.
How She Helps
Stusek prioritizes messages that come directly from students, especially young children who say they or their siblings are being denied meals. A recent TikTok that drew more than 1.2 million views began with a high school student saying they and friends were being turned away from meals because of unpaid balances; Stusek intervened by calling the school district and arranging payment.
Practical Steps
Her process typically involves contacting the school or district lunch office, confirming the family, and sending payment. She shares the original submission with school staff so they can follow up with families and connect them to additional resources. When balances are small, she often sends a check the same day; for larger needs she relies on donations generated by her videos.
"When I hear directly from a very young child asking for help... that definitely moves them to the front of the line," Stusek says.
Impact, Challenges, And Criticism
Many school staff are initially skeptical when an outsider offers to clear accounts, Stusek says, but their gratitude and messages from cafeteria workers and teachers underscore how meaningful the help can be. She has faced criticism for filming and sharing the process publicly, but argues that transparency drives donations, sustains the nonprofit and raises attention among policymakers who can make systemic change.
Stusek describes the work as a one-person operation: she receives hundreds of submissions a day and routes 100% of donations directly to schools. Still, the pressure to follow through is real — if donations fall short, she covers the difference personally.
The Long-Term Goal
Ultimately Stusek hopes for a future where universal free school lunches eliminate the need for her work. Until then, she plans to scale the nonprofit so it can help more communities, saying simply, "As long as I’m needed," she will continue.
Facts At A Glance: Sarah Stusek, 35; based in Alexandria, Va.; began posting in 2022; has cleared $75,681.55 in school lunch debt; prioritizes student messages; funds work through viewer donations and personal contributions; aims to expand and advocate for universal free lunches.
