FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — In the midst of all the sobering news surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, communities are also sharing some inspirational moments by recognizing those who work on the front lines.
Staff at SAD 20 in Fort Fairfield did that on Friday, May 1, when they honored the district’s school lunch team, who have worked to deliver a total of 19,000-plus meals to about 400 students.
“Today is School Lunch Hero Day and we decided to make our lunch workers feel extra special for all of their hard work,” said Nancy Rogeski, SAD 20 administrative assistant.
District staff gathered the crew for a celebratory cake Friday morning, and Food Service Director Tosha Rogeski showered workers with treats throughout the week.
The food service staff has been working about 25-30 hours per week and, with the help of ed techs and bus drivers, they have delivered 19,247 meals, and expect to deliver about the same number between now and the end of the year.
Each day, they deliver lunch along with breakfast for the following morning. Ed techs have helped to pack lunches, load the buses and even help deliver, with the invaluable help of bus drivers who know where each child lives.
“These have been challenging times for everyone. For our lunch staff to come in each and every day and prepare meals for our community’s children has been a labor of love,” she said. “Not once have they said they wish they could stay at home, but with great attitudes have shown up at a time when we really needed them to.”
“I have the best team I wouldn’t have been able to pull this off without my wonderful co-workers. They care just as much as I do about this job,” said Tosha Rogeski.
Although finding the rhythm was difficult at first, she said everyone gave their all “to get our kids fed.”
Parents have sent in pictures of the students enjoying their lunches and saying “thank you.” Students have even drawn pictures and hung them on their windows so that, as the bus drives by, school staff can see them.
“At this time I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Knowing we are providing a nutritional meal every day for the kids in our town makes me love my job even more. We will do whatever we can during this difficult time,” Natosha Rogeski said.
As they work, staff are maintaining social distancing protocols, Nancy Rogeski said. The large kitchen size has enabled everyone to work at different stations, and at delivery sites meals are dropped off without personal contact and gloves are changed between deliveries.
In a normal year, the district would typically celebrate all school staff together during Teacher Appreciation and Staff Appreciation Week in May.
“But this year, under the pressure of school closure and the desire to make sure all of our kids get fed, our staff has really gone above and beyond and we wanted to make today extra special,” Nancy Rogeski said.
“You can’t tell under the masks but they were all smiling,” she added.
Staff writer Melissa Lizotte contributed to this report.
