This man is helping kids by paying off thousands in school lunch debts

Venturing into schools one by one, 60-year-old Sean Cummings is on a mission to wipe out school lunch debts for kids. His motivation? It's deeply personal.

Watch the video above to learn the story behind his kindness.

When Sean's late wife, Cathy Cummings, faced a terminal diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, they shared a conversation about extending her love for the community. It was around that time when they heard a local school was withholding a transcript for a 17-year-old over a mere $2.50 lunch debt. As restaurant owners, they knew they had to step in.

Despite Cathy's tragic death just three weeks after her diagnosis, Sean pressed on. He launched a GoFundMe page, and the response was nothing short of incredible. Within a month, the community answered his call with a staggering $83,000 to alleviate school lunch debts. Sean attributes this outpouring of support to love.

“The amount of money that was raised shows you that people believe in her cause.” Sean said, “I'm just the delivery boy.”

With each school visit, Sean's mission extends beyond erasing debts; it's about ensuring no student's education is hindered by financial obstacles. He's been taken aback by some schools' reactions to lunch debts, like one that barred students from buying prom tickets.

By highlighting these issues, Sean hopes to inspire policy change. Through his actions, he carries forward Cathy's legacy, finding solace in knowing she continues to impact lives.

“I have found it cathartic to know that she's still helping these people through my actions,” Sean said. “You don't have to change the world. You just have to change a little of it.”

Watch the full story below to hear more from school staff and Sean himself.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man clearing school lunch debts for kids in honor of his late wife