Ohio restaurant owner from Arkansas pays off elementary school lunch debts

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An Arkansas native who owns a restaurant in Ohio used her success to give back to a local elementary school.

Naiyozcsia Thomason, owner of Mz. Jade's Soul Food, spent the first 10 years of her life in Helena, Arkansas, where her passion for food first developed under the tutelage of her grandma.

"Being from Arkansas, my grandma taught me how to cook," said Thomason. "I have known how to cook since I was six. By the time I was 11, I could burn like I burn now. So, I just always had a passion for cooking. It was my birth gift and my grandma taught me everything.”

Years later, Thomason made her way to Ohio, where in 2010 she opened up her restaurant.

“I started outside with seven deep fryers and two tents, and it landed me on the inside," said Thomason.

Last week, an elementary school in Ohio posted on Facebook that those with a negative lunch balance would not be able to participate in "Ice Cream Friday" and students were not allowed to bring money to pay for it.

Thomason saw the post and thought she might be able to help.

"Once I read it, through the night, I couldn’t get any more sleep," said Thomason. "I have to call that school and find out what I can do as far as my restaurant, and what I can do to pay off those lunch debts."

And that's exactly what she did, paying off the total debt for third and fourth graders, $411.12.

"It hit home," said Thomason. "I am a mother of six kids. I have been one of those parents before that has had a debt and the school has stopped my children from being able to do stuff. I couldn’t do anything about it back then. I was in the position now to do something about it, so I took action and did something about it.”

She also attributed her good deed to her love for children.

“I mean being able to do something within my power is just a happy moment," said Thomason. "I love it so much. I love kids. I call kids my Mz. Jade's Soul Kids.”

The school district posted an apology on Facebook to parents and stated that district-wide rules prevent à la carte items, such as ice cream, to be bought if students have a negative balance.

The school district went on to say in the post that cafeteria registers are not allowed to accept cash and students cannot buy their friends food without prior parental permission.

Thomason noted that other companies and individuals have donated to the elementary school lunch fund to resolve students' negative balances for the time being.