For busy parents, the typical before school morning rush doesn’t leave much time to scrounge around for the two or three dollars needed each day for lunch money.

A new Web site provides a solution for this challenge, as parents can now prepay for student lunches online, using a tool called LunchPrepay.com.

Several school districts across the state, including Richmond County Schools, are now registered with the new web system that allows parents to set-up an account with their child’s school, and place the desired amount of money on the student’s account for lunch.

Setting up this account takes little to no time at all, and parents can use it every school year.

Lois Hood, director of child nutrition in Richmond County, says the program is a great way for parents to track the amount of money students have and plan ahead.

“We’ve been really impressed with the system and the ease with which parents can go ahead and place funds on student accounts.” Hood said. “This program will allow our lunch lines [to] move faster, and I think our students and staff members will be able to see the difference.”

Hood also says the Web site offers a number of other benefits to parents:

The ability to pay for multiple students’ accounts with one single payment.

The ability to look-up a students’ account balance, any time, any place the Internet is available.

The ability to see 90 calendar days of purchases and payments. Automated notification, via e-mail, when the student’s account balance falls below an amount a parent has set.

Amy Hamilton, Director of Community Services for First Health Richmond Memorial has two sons, students at L.J. Bell Elementary and the Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy, and says she has given up the traditional lunch money search.

“Before lunch prepay, we would struggle every morning to find the “right amount” of money to send with each child.” Hamilton shared “We have never ‘run out’ of money in our account since I receive the reminders by e-mail when the balance falls below (a certain amount). I would highly recommend Lunch Prepay for any busy working parent.”

The Web site provides a brief tutorial for parents and money on in their accounts follow them, even if they move and transfer to another school in Richmond County.

If they move from the district, their money will be returned by the child nutrition staff at the particular school. It also allows parents to track student purchases, something that Amy Kaw, parent of a student at Washington Street Elementary says she really appreciates.

“I paid a $10 fee that allows me to see what my child buys, whether it’s ice cream, lunch food, or any other item,” Kaw said. “It’s so quick and simple. I love it.”

A letter will be sent home with all students in the coming weeks to provide more information about the Web site. Parents can visit the Richmond County Schools district Web site, or go directly to www.lunchprepay.com Internet link to create an account and find more information.