School Custodians Make Thanksgiving Happier for Families in Need

Custodians across the country have been working around the clock to keep school buildings clean and safe for children and staff due to the coronavirus pandemic. At East Haven Connecticut public schools, custodians, maintenance, and security workers—who are part of United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU) Local 424 -Unit 52—stepped up even more by providing Thanksgiving dinners to 16 families in eight town schools, New Haven Register reports.

Vincent Borzillo Sr., custodian at Momauguin Elementary School and secretary of the union, told New Haven Register that the pandemic has been tough on families and they “wanted to start doing more to help the community.”

Under the direction of the union’s president, members collected donations for the food. “We’re paying some of it out of our pocket,” Borzillo said, adding they worked with the school principals to determine which families needed assistance.

The Thanksgiving dinners included a turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, pie, and dinner rolls. They were distributed to each of the 16 families this past Saturday with social distancing in place.