"When he got that diploma, it felt like one of my kids."

Barbara Franklin
Lead Food Service Worker

For Barbara Franklin, there’s more to working in a school cafeteria than just feeding the children. When one student came in hungry and in need of clothes, Barbara helped collect coats and shoes for him. She kept on eye out for him over the years, working with the school administration to get him care and shelter when he needed it.

But the biggest reward came later when that young man walked out on stage to get his high school diploma. Barbara was overwhelmed by emotion just as if it was her own son out there.

"Every morning I do little things that help my patients walk out of the hospital.”

Mary Wise
Patient Services Worker

Getting out of the hospital isn’t as simple as treating an illness or injury. It requires the care and attention of someone like Patient Services Worker Mary Wise.

When a patient was depressed and not eating very much, Mary did what she could to make him feel better. She met with the chef to get the patient the nutrition he needed. But Mary also visited the patient every day to get him smiling. Soon he was mentally and physically well enough to walk out of the hospital and back to his thankful family.

“I get a thrill seeing their eyes light up.”

Francesco Celestino
Chef de Cuisine

During the pandemic, residents at the Villa de Vinci Retirement Home were required to stay in their residences. Chef Francesco Celestino noticed that this isolation left many feeling scared and isolated. He imagined his own grandparents in the same situation and knew he needed to lift spirits.

As a trained singer, Francesco decided to treat the residents to a hallway performance of classics. From their doorways, the residents were buoyed by the music, their spirits lifted when they needed it most.

“I’ll stay as long as they need.”

Juana Santos
Amavir Humanes Elderly Home

The biggest snowfall in 50 years wasn’t going to stop Juana Santos from making her way to work at the Amavir Humanaes Elderly Home. She knew the residents and staff would need all the help they could get.

Juana contacted the mayor and the local police to commandeer a bulldozer to take her and other coworkers into work. As Storm Filomena raged, the bulldozer crawled towards the Home; the two kilometre journey took almost an hour. Once there Juana stayed for two nights, working double shifts to fill in for others who couldn’t make it in.