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Among 2016's bright spots is a social-media campaign to pay off students' overdue lunch accounts — a movement that didn't start here but nevertheless found fertile ground among kindhearted Minnesotans who so far have donated more than $100,000 to needy students in Twin Cities public schools.

According to Minneapolis school officials, it all began when a New York-based writer and editor named Ashley Ford tweeted on Dec. 6 that it would be "cool" to voluntarily pay off a kid's in-the-red lunch account at a local school. To Minnesota's credit, Ford's proposal struck a lot of people here as one of those "why haven't we done this before now?" ideas.

Recognizing the enthusiasm Ford's tweet generated, former state legislator Jeremy Kalin quickly reached out to the Minneapolis School District to set up an easy way for people to donate online. Kalin drafted a computer expert at his company to create a website called HelpMplskids.com. The site now directs donors to another site run by the Achieve Mpls nonprofit. There, the charitably minded can designate a school for their gift and can choose to name someone that the gift honors.

School lunches are still a bargain, costing $2.35 a day in elementary schools and $2.55 in older grades in Minneapolis. But it's still easy for families to get behind if they have multiple children or are just beyond the income cutoff for free or reduced lunches. The average negative balance in Minneapolis: $75. The total amount of all overdue lunch accounts: $160,000.

Kids still get something to eat even when they're not paid up. But the contributions give families a clean start for the year and ease the burden on the school district, which typically picks up the uncollected tab. So far, about $80,000 has been raised in Minneapolis, with a recent donation by Minnesota Timberwolves staff putting the fundraising at the halfway point.

The St. Paul Public Schools set up a similar account with GiveMN.org, and it has gone over the amount needed: $28,000. On Thursday, an anonymous donor gave $5,227 so that Maple Grove High School could pay off overdue accounts and cover future lunch debt. Here's hoping the momentum will continue around the state. It's hard to imagine a more pragmatic way to help kids thrive than by keeping red ink off the menu.