A student holds a handmade poster during School Lunch Hero Day at Tortuga Preserve Elementary in Lehigh on Friday. PHOTO PROVIDED

On Friday, a group of school district employees who may not always feel the love got a big thank you from students, families, peers and administrators alike.

The School District of Lee County promoted its School Lunch Hero Day at Tortuga Preserve Elementary in Lehigh from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Throughout the morning, families took the time to make signs and show their support for the food and nutrition staff working the Grab & Go meal sites at schools countywide. Superintendent Dr. Gregory Adkins was one of the first people to drive through the line to say thank you.

“It’s awesome to see what our food service workers do for us every day. We have served approaching 600,000 meals so far across the county and to be able to provide that to our families, it’s just great. The other thing that’s neat is to see the kids again. You don’t get the opportunity to do that very often anymore. This is just a nice, little connection that the schools still have with our community,” Adkins said.

Adkins was happy to see the community come out to support the staff.

On Friday, May 1, the Lee County School District promoted its School Lunch Hero Day at Tortuga Preserve Elementary in Lehigh Acres. PHOTO PROVIDED

“It seemed like every car that rolled up today had cards to give and signs. Big cards saying ‘I love you,’ so that was just neat to see. You can tell they really appreciate this. It’s a small little thing that we can do just to recognize them, so I’m glad to travel to as many schools as I can get to today. Just to stop by and give a hello and say thanks,” Adkins said.

For the staff who are out there each morning rain or shine, it makes everything they do worth it.

“We give them breakfast and lunch every day Monday through Friday. We love seeing the kids. They bring their dogs. They bring their toys and show us the new games that they are playing. But mostly they tell us how much they miss us and miss coming to school. So this is just kind of normal for them. Part of their daily routine,” Cara Degaetano, assistant East Lee High School Cafeteria Manager said.

According to Degaetano, it was great to feel how much the families appreciated what they do.

“Today is National Lunch Hero Day, so they came out and are celebrating us and appreciating all that we do for them. They brought us balloons and cards, and even donuts. It feels very good. We love them and are always doing for them from our hearts, so it’s nice to see that they feel the same way,” Degaetano said.

On Friday, May 1, the Lee County School District promoted its School Lunch Hero Day at Tortuga Preserve Elementary in Lehigh Acres. PHOTO PROVIDED

The Lee County School District also is hosting Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teacher Appreciation Day was Tuesday.

Each year the National PTA designates one week in May as a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children. The School District of Lee County would love for parents, guardians, students to join them to say thank you to the teachers around Lee County.

“We will be asking our parents each day on Facebook to do something to show teachers their appreciation. We have created this webpage that details the week’s events. If the community would like to profile a teacher whose making a difference, next week is good timing,” district spokesperson Rob Spicker, said.

The week kicked off on Monday, May 4, with a post to thank a teacher. Then Tuesday, was National Teacher Appreciation Day.

On Friday, May 1, the Lee County School District promoted its School Lunch Hero Day at Tortuga Preserve Elementary in Lehigh Acres. PHOTO PROVIDED

Parents, guardians, students and community members were asked to email a thank you note to their child’s teacher or teachers.

Today, May 6, students and families can send teachers a virtual award using social media or email.

Meanwhile, on Throwback Thursday, May 7, they want to see pictures! Post a picture of you or your child’s favorite teacher.

More pictures (or video) will highlight Friday, May 8. Take a picture holding a hand-written thank you note or shoot a short video thanking teachers. You can thank your child’s teacher or just thank our educational heroes.

For more information on Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, visit www.leeschools.net/parent_portal/teacher_appreciation_week

Throughout the morning, families took the time to make signs and show their support for the food and nutrition staff working the Grab & Go sites at the schools. PHOTO PROVIDED