Just in time for back-to-school, Keystone Cooperative is helping eliminate school lunch debt for students across rural communities. The farmer-owned cooperative is proud to announce the selection of 34 school corporations as recipients of funding through its Propane with Purpose initiative. Through the program, Keystone will award $177,450 to help alleviate school lunch debt and strengthen food security for students and families.
Launched during the 2025-2026 school year, Propane with Purpose was created to address food insecurity by turning everyday propane deliveries into meaningful community impact. For every propane delivery stop, Keystone contributed $0.50 to the Keystone Cooperative Charitable Foundation, helping schools reduce outstanding meal balances and ensure students have access to nutritious meals.
Through the support of Keystone propane customers and generous monetary matches from the Land O’Lakes Foundation, Propane with Purpose surpassed its $150,000 goal and generated $177,450 for school lunch debt relief.
“No child should have to worry about whether they can afford a school meal. We are proud to support schools and families across our region by helping eliminate lunch debt and ensuring students have access to the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and succeed,” said incoming Keystone CEO Scott Logue. “This program is possible because of the generosity of our communities and our shared commitment to supporting local students.”
Schools were nominated by community members and evaluated based on several factors, including student enrollment, free and reduced lunch participation, and existing school lunch debt. The selected recipients represent communities throughout Indiana and Ohio.
“We truly could not have donated more than $177,000 to food programs in our community schools without the support of our propane customers. Every delivery contributed to this impact, and together, our customers helped us far exceed our goal. We are incredibly grateful to every family, business, and customer who chose Keystone and, in doing so, helped provide meaningful support to local schools and the students they serve,” said Eric Adair, Keystone Vice President of Energy.
The 34 recipient school corporations were formally announced during Keystone Cooperative’s annual Co-op Classic event in Frankfort, Indiana. Prior to the announcement, Keystone representatives traveled across the cooperative’s trade territory to personally present checks to each recipient school, recognizing their selection and celebrating the collective impact of the Propane with Purpose initiative.
- Benton Community School Corporation
- Culver Community Schools Corporation
- Danville Community School Corporation
- Eastern Hancock School Corporation
- Eastern Howard School Corporation
- Frankton-Lapel Community Schools
- Jay School Corporation
- Kankakee Valley School Corporation
- Manchester Community Schools
- MSD of Wabash County
- Nettle Creek School Corporation
- New Prairie United School Corporation
- North Fork Local School District
- North Knox School Corporation
- North Montgomery Community School Corporation
- North Newton School Corporation
- North Putnam Community School Corporation
- North Vermillion School Corporation
- Oak Hill United School Corporation
- Rochester Community School Corporation
- Rush County Schools
- Shelby Eastern School Corporation – Morristown
- Shenandoah School Corporation
- Sheridan Community Schools
- South Henry School Corporation
- South Madison Community School Corporation
- South Putnam Community School Corporation
- South Montgomery Community School Corporation
- Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation
- Tri-Central Community Schools
- Tri-Village School District
- Triton School Corporation
- Vigo County School Corporation
- West Central School Corporation
Following the success of its inaugural year, Keystone Cooperative is proud to continue Propane with Purpose during the 2026-2027 school year. Community members are encouraged to nominate their local schools for funding consideration and help support efforts to reduce school lunch debt across rural communities.
Through programs like Propane with Purpose, Keystone Cooperative continues its commitment to strengthening food security, supporting rural communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for local families.
To nominate your school and learn more about Propane with Purpose, visit www.keystonecoop.com/propanewithpurpose.
