POCATELLO, Idaho — A group of local business owners and community members have joined forces to eliminate student lunch debt across the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, launching a public fundraising challenge that has already surpassed its initial goal within days of going live.
Jesse and Mary Baeza, along with Josh and Hailey Knowlton, introduced the effort on Sunday through a video posted to social media, challenging friends, colleagues, business partners, and neighbors throughout the Portneuf Valley to fully clear the district’s outstanding student lunch debt — totaling $6,100 — within 30 days.
Within just two days of launching, organizers say they believe the original $6,100 goal has already been met. The group has since set a new target of doubling that amount and has expressed hope that community momentum will carry the effort well beyond that figure.
A Community Effort With Long-Term Goals
Jesse Baeza, a residential real estate agent serving Pocatello and the surrounding Southeast Idaho region, said his awareness of school lunch debt grew over time as he learned more about the issue affecting students in the local district. For Baeza and his fellow organizers, the challenge is not just about a one-time payment — it is about building lasting awareness and finding ways to prevent the problem from returning.
“We want this to continue, and we want to bring awareness to it. So, us paying the debt off is going to solve the problem right, but how can we solve the problem in the future?” Baeza told EastIdahoNews.com.
The organizers structured the challenge with a 30-day window, reaching out broadly to the Pocatello-Chubbuck community and beyond across social media. The response, according to Baeza, has been swift and enthusiastic, with donations pouring in almost immediately after the video was posted.
The initiative reflects a model of private, community-driven action to address a local need — relying on business owners, neighbors, and individuals rather than government funding or district budget allocations to fill the gap.
Fundraiser at Wanderlust Set for Saturday
To further build on the campaign’s early success, organizers have announced a one-night fundraising event scheduled for Saturday at Wanderlust, located at 1799 Hurley Drive in Pocatello. Local singer Shandi Michelle is set to perform at the event and has committed to donating all of her tips from the evening directly to the school lunch debt challenge.
In addition, the owners of Wanderlust have pledged to match every dollar raised through those tips, effectively doubling the impact of contributions made during the performance. The combination of live entertainment, community participation, and business matching donations is designed to generate both funds and broader public awareness of the issue.
The fundraiser represents one of several planned touchpoints the organizers hope to use to keep the conversation going in the community long after the initial 30-day challenge window closes.
Addressing a Nationwide Issue at the Local Level
Student lunch debt is a challenge faced by school districts across the country, including many throughout Idaho. When families fall behind on cafeteria account balances, the debt can accumulate quickly and place administrative and budgetary pressure on school nutrition programs. Community-led efforts to pay off those balances have gained traction in recent years as a practical, grassroots approach to keeping students fed without adding strain to district finances.
For Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, which serves thousands of students across Pocatello and Chubbuck, eliminating the current lunch debt balance would provide immediate relief to affected families and to the district’s food service operations.
Organizers say they are committed to keeping the effort visible even after the debt is paid, with the hope that ongoing donations and community engagement can help prevent the debt from rebuilding in the months and years ahead.
What Comes Next
The fundraising challenge remains active, with organizers now targeting a goal of at least $12,200 — double the original debt amount. The Wanderlust fundraiser featuring Shandi Michelle is scheduled for this Saturday at 1799 Hurley Drive in Pocatello, with tip-matching by the venue’s owners. Community members interested in contributing to the effort or following its progress can search for Jesse Baeza’s TikTok account for updates. For broader coverage of education issues across Idaho, visit IdahoNews.co and the Idaho News Network.