The Long Lake Cloverdale Association and an anonymous donor teamed up to pay $862 in overdue lunch bills for Delton Kellogg Schools, wiping out the debt and providing a clean slate for students and parents in the new year.

“I think its great,” Interim Superintendent Carl Schoessel said. “It’s a very nice thing to do, especially this time of year. Hopefully, people will understand that some of us just can’t afford these things; they may be unemployed, or have medical bills, or for whatever reason…this is good for our students.”

At Christmas time every year, the Long Lake Cloverdale Association does something to help struggling families, association member David Jackson said. This year, the board offered to pay on the past due lunch bills in Delton, the same as an anonymous donor had done for Hastings schools.

Jackson called Interim Superintendent Carl Schoessel to tell him the association board had committed to pay half of the $862 shortfall, either through donations or from its general fund.

It turned out to be a combination of both, Jackson said.

An anonymous donor gave the remaining $431 debt.

“It’s important to be a good neighbors and our board members give back in any way they can. We’re blessed to live on a lake and have a great association; it’s our duty to be responsible and try to help out,” he said.