By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

Since the start of the mandated school closure in March, Char Grimes and Wendy Marshall have worked tirelessly to feed the students of the Cazenovia Central School District.

As of May 27, Grimes, the district’s food services director, and Marshall had prepared 29,102 school meals for distribution to families via pick-up and delivery.

“The last 10 weeks have been challenging,” said Grimes. “I miss the students . . . At first it was stressful and overwhelming, but [since] Wendy and I finally got into a routine it has gone a lot smoother . . . Right now it truly is hard not to see the students everyday and talk with them as they come through the lunch line or just stop in first thing in the morning and say hi to us . . . Wendy and I have talked [a lot] about the seniors. This is the first year that we are unable to say bye and good luck. I for one will miss all of them.”

Although Grimes and Marshall have been working together for years, they have gotten to know each other even better during the school closure.

“I hired Wendy six years ago and I have never regretted it,” Grimes said. “ . . . She comes to work everyday and she puts her heart into her work. I give her most of the credit for what we are doing for the children right now. She has a routine down for all our deliveries and she carries the heavy food boxes from our workstation to the cooler and then to the vans that distribute the food for the school. I am so proud to have her as one of my employees.”

Marshall also considers Grimes to be an ideal teammate for the challenging task at hand.

“It’s been fun [working together], she said. “We laugh every day, either at each other or over nothing simply because we’re tired; it’s what makes the day go by. She’s become a great friend . . . pretty much family actually. She has a big heart. She’s really easy to work with and for . . . Sometimes we know what each other is thinking before we say it. Jokingly though, I can’t wait to get away from her and have a break.”

When the women first started preparing and distributing school meals back in March, they had two assistants. Several weeks ago, however, both helpers left for personal reasons.

“We cannot say that it hasn’t been a little stressful at times, but we don’t let it get to us,” Grimes said. “We just remind each other that the children need our help . . . No child should go without food. [For] some children [their] only food source is when they are in school.”

To honor the women and their hard work, The Haven at Skanda has organized a community fundraiser to send Grimes and Marshall on a spa day once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Marshall has been a dedicated Skanda volunteer for many years.

“[Wendy and Char] have been working so hard since schools closed to make sure every child who needs a meal in the [district] gets one,” said Ellen Beckerman, Skanda’s executive director. “We see Wendy regularly when she volunteers at Skanda, and we have been aware of how hard she and Char have been working and how much they worry about the kids. They have generously provided food for children attending Skanda’s emergency childcare program, and have expressed concern for children whose families might be struggling. They are exhausted physically after months of hard work, but are pushing themselves because the kids need them . . . We have been touched by their dedication and felt that that probably so many in our community feel the same way . . .”

According to Beckerman, the women are delivering 195 meals three times a week to families who cannot pick them up at the school and preparing another 150 meals three times a week for families who can.

“When we do a normal school lunch from September to June, we do just over 30,000 meals,” said Marshall. “We’ll have that beat after this week is over . . . This is a very difficult time for everyone. This is a way to help parent stretch out their food at home. We’ve heard from a few parents that their kids feel connected to school by getting these meals.”

Skanda’s fundraising goal is $1,200, which would pay for each woman to enjoy a full day of luxury at Skana Spa at Turning Stone Resort Casino.

“We chose a spa day because the long hours are taking a physical toll, and we feel both these incredible women deserve to not only rest, but be nurtured and pampered and really truly relax in a beautiful, peaceful environment,” Beckerman said. “They deserve the best — just a fraction of the love and dedication they are showing to Cazenovia’s children and families.”

Grimes said she was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning of the fundraiser.

“I love my job,” she added. “I have been able to do what I enjoy doing for the last 20.5 years. My thought has always been that if you’re just at your job for the paycheck then you need to find something different.”

Marshall said she is looking forward to experiencing her first massage.

“I’m excited, [especially] after these past three weeks when it has been just Char and I,” she said. “ . . . Thank you so much The Haven at Skanda for putting this together. It means a lot.”

To contribute to the fundraiser, visit the “Send Char & Wendy for a spa day!” GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/sendwendyandcharforaspaday?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet.

All students residing within the Cazenovia Central School District are eligible for a free, boxed breakfast and lunch during the school closure.

For more information, call Grimes at 315-655-5346.

To learn more about The Haven at Skanda, visit thehavenatskanda.org.