Neighbors Feeding Neighbors event May 16 aims to erase school lunch debt

For the second year in a row, local nonprofit Brier Helping Brier will host its Neighbors Feeding Neighbors event to help pay off school lunch debt. The May 16 event will benefit families in Edmonds School District schools serving Brier and Mountlake Terrace students. The goal in 2026 is to raise up to $8,000 to eliminate lunch debt for even more local families.

Last year’s event, then called “Brier Feeding Brier,” paid off lunch debt for families who qualified for reduced-price lunches but were still unable to pay at Brier Elementary, Brier Terrace Middle School, Mountlake Terrace High School and additional Mountlake Terrace schools. To reflect the event’s expanding impact beyond Brier and include more Mountlake Terrace schools, the event has been renamed “Neighbors Feeding Neighbors” for 2026, the organization said in a news release.

“It’s sad that school lunch debt exists at all,” said Pat Rhoads, executive director for Brier Helping Brier. “This event lets our neighbors come together to make sure every student can eat with dignity.”

The Neighbors Feeding Neighbors event will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at Brookview Church in Brier. The evening will feature gourmet desserts from Reham’s Cake Gallery and live music performed by Mountlake Terrace High School student musicians. Through ticket sales, advance donations and contributions made during the event, Brier Helping Brier hopes to raise up to $8,000 to erase school lunch debt in 2026.

Tickets are required for admission and can be purchased online here. Can’t attend? Donations can be made online  or mailed to Brier Helping Brier, 23811 Brier Rd., Brier, WA 98036.