Show Appreciation This National Custodian Day

Since its inception in 1985, National Custodian Day takes place Oct. 2 each year and offers an opportunity to appreciate the custodians who work hard to keep facilities clean, sanitary and maintained.

PTO Today shared a few ways that parent teacher organizations (PTO) can celebrate their school’s custodians this Friday, including gifts, messages from students, thank-you banners, videos from students and staff members, snacks, meals and new office chairs. Most importantly, PTOs were encouraged to include custodians in project planning year round and thank custodians after extra school events.

Additionally, National Today offers three ways to best honor the spirit of National Custodian Day:

• Do something nice for a custodian: Bake a cake, grab a gift card, or write a thank you card!
• Commend your custodian to their supervisor: Contact their supervisor and let them know how much you appreciate your custodian’s hard work.
• Organize an office potluck: Bonus points if you can turn the festivities into a surprise as the custodians walk into the potluck party!

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) also is celebrating the fifth year of the Behind the Scenes of Clean initiative ahead of Oct. 2, recognizing the professionals who help keep facilities operating every day. This year, RCP will host 11 appreciation events nationwide, personally recognizing around 1,250 custodial and facility professionals for their contributions to communities across the country. At each event, custodial and facility teams will be recognized through appreciation gatherings celebrating the often-unseen work that keeps facilities running every day. Events will take place across the U.S., including Mooresville, North Carolina; Atlanta; Orlando; Chicago and Naples, Florida, where local teams will be recognized for their service and contributions.

“Behind the Scenes of Clean has grown into a meaningful tradition of gratitude,” said Robert Posthauer, president, commercial segment of Newell Brands. “Behind every workplace, school, hospital and public space are dedicated professionals whose contributions are often unseen, but always essential. We are proud to celebrate the people whose hard work helps communities function every day and to thank them in person for the impact they make.”