Zee Zees Helps Tackle School Lunch Debt IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
NATIONAL GRANT 1 of 3 SCHOOL DISTRICTS SELECTED
Zee Zees, a brand known for its nutritious snacks and commitment to children’s wellness, is making a big impact with its Grab the Tab School Lunch Debt Relief Grant. The initiative, designed to help pay down school lunch debt “one tab at a time,” selected three schools this year from a pool of applicants spanning 43 states. Among the recipients was Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida, with three specific schools benefitting directly: Tinker K-8, Randall Middle School, and Newsome High School. Through the Grab the Tab grant, Zee Zees relieved a total of $36,138 in lunch debt for the Hillsborough County school system. In addition to the financial relief, the company also provided an in-kind donation of its healthy, student-friendly snacks to support the schools’ efforts in providing nutritious meals.
The program’s selection process was based on financial need and the school district’s demonstrated commitment to offering healthy meals to their students. Hillsborough County’s inclusion in this year’s recipients highlights the district’s ongoing efforts to support student nutrition despite increasing challenges in school meal funding. “For us, it’s all about supporting students and families,” said Colin Gerding, Principal of Randall Middle School. “To have Zee Zees come in, it is a huge support for us as a district. All we want to do is support our students and our families, and having a partnership like that just allows us to do that much more.” School lunch debt is a growing concern across the country, affecting students’ ability to access meals and creating stress for families and school administrators alike. Zee Zees’ Grab the
20 | Healthy Harvest June 2025
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