POCATELLO — When local real estate agent Jesse Baeza realized families in the Portneuf Valley were struggling with school lunch debt, he knew he had to act.

“I went to the district and sat with some of the people who serve lunch and had them explain it to me,” Baeza said. “Once I fully understood it, I decided I had to do something.”

As part of his real estate business, Baeza is known for doing giveaways, often partnering with local businesses. But he wanted to do more.

“I started thinking about how I can help the community rather than just one person,” he said.

As he considered the issue, he recalled Dalene Bowden — the lunch worker fired in December 2015 for giving a free meal to a student who couldn’t pay. Baeza grew up in Aberdeen, where the district provides lunch at no cost, and raised the topic with his wife, Mary.

“She said Pocatello doesn’t have free lunches for everyone,” Baeza said. “I just wasn’t aware students had to pay for lunches if they don’t qualify for the school lunch program.”

What he learned is that a federal lunch program provides meals for children from qualifying families, but a gap exists for households that earn too much to qualify yet still struggle to cover the cost. Schools allow students to carry a negative balance to ensure they eat, but parents are expected to repay it.

Baeza’s research found roughly $6,100 in negative cafeteria balances across Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25.

“I went home and told my wife we are going to have to do something to raise some money for these families,” he said.

Baeza, his wife and their friends Josh and Hailey Knowlton set about raising the money. A fundraiser is scheduled Saturday, April 4, at Wanderlust Craft Beer Taproom & Wine Bar from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

“There is a local singer here named Shandi Michelle who will be performing,” Baeza said. “She will be donating her tips and Wanderlust will be matching the tips.”

The fundraising effort has gained momentum. Baeza said donors have already responded to the group’s initial outreach and they are close to their original goal — but he is thinking beyond that.

“I don’t want to just clear the accounts, I want there to be a cushion,” Baeza said. “I have so many people who want to contribute and businesses that want to collaborate, I think this is going to be a yearly or bi-yearly thing.”

Those who cannot attend the fundraiser but wish to donate can contribute through an account Baeza opened at ICCU called the School District 25 Charity Account.