Philando Castile, as many know, was a school nutritionist and lunchroom supervisor who was brutally murdered by a police officer, Jeronimo Yanez, in front of his child and girlfriend on July 6, 2016. Castile was shot seven times after respectfully telling the officer there was a firearm in the vehicle before reaching for his ID. His girlfriend live streamed the heartbreaking incident and despite the evidence Officer Yanez was not convicted.
It has been almost two years since his death but his name and kind spirit carried on as a charity, Philando Feeds the Children. It was created in his honor pays off the lunch debts of almost 2,000 students.
The charity was created by Pamela Fergus, who is an instructor at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fergus delivered a $35,000 check to St. Paul Public schools to help pay off the debt accumulated by student enrolled in the National School Lunch Program. This charity was generated in regards to Castile’s giving spirit with helping children pay for their lunches out of his own pocket.
The initial goal was to raise $5,000 to donate to the school, J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School, that Castile worked at. Within the first month they exceeded that expectation and in result donated to schools in need across the district. With vast donations continuously being achieved, Fergus has hopes to collect $1 million to help the entire state of Minnesota.
