Mantua – A week or so before the final meal distribution before the Christmas, Jennifer Bujak-Hirsch, Director of Nutrition Services at the Crestwood Local School District had an idea. The Crestwood Local School District has provided over 300,000 meals since the pandemic began in March. And while local families have appreciated receiving breakfasts and lunches, she thought, after a year like 2020, they could use a little extra cheer. “Our kids have already been through so much and although they are amazingly resilient.” So she wanted to make 2020’s final food distribution a bit more special for the 700 families who take advantage of Crestwood’s free food distribution program.
Her idea that, “Maybe we can get a Santa” quickly ballooned into Santa Claus, a few elves, the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and heck, why not invite the Mantua-Shalersville Fire Department and the Mantua Police Department? Bujak-Hirsch was thrilled to learn, after a few quick emails and phone calls that everyone she approached wanted to join in to help make the final food distribution of 2020 a very festive event indeed. “Restoration 44 even donated coffee for our volunteers!” she noted.
Santa volunteered, giving up his son’s basketball game to be there, Crestwood’s Superintendent dressed up as the Grinch, and a teacher set up a table to hand out donated books for kiddos to read over break. “I am so proud of how all this came together!” Bijak-Hirsch marveled. Her team not only packed up over 19,000 meals, but baked cookies and assembled kits so that Santa could send each child home with a fresh baked sugar cookie, icing, sprinkles and a candy-cane for at-home decorating. “I am proud to live in a community where anytime I ask the Fire or Police Departments, or anyone to do something for the schools, the response is most always a yes!” But the best response came later, when Bijak-Hirsch received a note from a mother who attended the event with her kids.
She shared, “ Thanks so much for the special food pick up. We hadn’t seen Santa yet this year and the kids were so excited to see him. When we pulled in, they asked, ‘do you think it’s the REAL Santa?’ I told them we’d have to see when we got closer.” She continued, “I about cried when we pulled away because my seven-year-old said, ‘Mom, it WAS the real Santa! I can’t believe we got to see the REAL Santa — I heard his voice, Mom, It was the real one!” She continued, “Never would I have thought a food pick up would have been the highlight of the kids Christmas season, but it was.”
Bujak-Hirsch noted that the event couldn’t have happened without lots of support. She thanked her team, Superintendent Toth, Mr. & Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Cobb, Mantua McDonalds, Mantua Police Department, Mantua-Shalersville Fire Department, the Long and Hunter families, Kim Timms, the Crestwood Transportation Department, and Crestwood custodians for their assistance with meal distributions and their assistance during the special event where Crestwood families were provided with two weeks of breakfasts and lunches, 1/2 gallons of both chocolate and white milk, holiday cookie kits, and the chance to see some special visitors.
