8-year-old raises money so other students can get hot lunch

An 8-year-old Michigan boy, upset because his best friend was denied a hot lunch, has raised money to help thousands of needy students get meals. Cayden Taipulus, a student at Challenger Elementary School in Howell, Mich., began his effort just two weeks ago, NBC's "Today" show reported Tuesday. His friend had been given a cheese sandwich instead of a hot lunch because his meal account was overdue. His mother, Amber Melke-Peters, said Cayden began by raising $64 by returning bottles and cans and getting contributions from neighbors. The fundraising mushroomed after a local radio station mentioned Cayden, and the mother and son decided to begin an online fundraising drive. So far, Cayden has collected almost $11,000 so students at Challenger and other schools can get hot food at lunchtime. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this would happen," Melke-Peters said. "He's just a little local boy trying to do some good."