Thanksgiving blessings from a grateful BHSU community

Selfie of Ed and Renata Idarraga

Ed Idarraga and his wife Renata were recipients

of one of the BHSU Thanksgiving food baskets this year.

Ed is a night time custodian at the

Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center on campus.

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, all of the custodians at Black Hills State University received an unexpected email that made their holiday memorable and delicious.
 
To recognize and honor custodian workers for their frontline work throughout the pandemic, BHSU faculty and staff created Thanksgiving food baskets for the custodians to share with their families. The basket was complete with a turkey and ingredients for traditional holiday side dishes along with the sincere gratitude of the BHSU community.
 
“The Thanksgiving season is a special time whereby families, friends, and co-workers pause to consider our blessing…you are among those. Your dedicated service to the BHSU community during the pandemic is noticed and greatly appreciated. We wish to recognize and honor you and your 27 wonderful custodial colleagues whose tireless daily front-line efforts make our campus a safer place to work and learn. We hope that you’ll enjoy the gift and know just how important you are to us,” the message said.
 
For the past 22 years, BHSU employees have quietly helped other BHSU people enjoy their Thanksgiving by providing Thanksgiving Food Baskets. This BHSU tradition was originally inspired by the notion that no one within the BHSU family should feel hunger nor disadvantaged especially during the Thanksgiving holiday according to Mike Isaacson who has been instrumental to the success of this giving tradition on campus. This year the effort was coordinated by Isaacson, Debbie Liddick, and Ron Showman. Isaacson noted that there’s always been great response from across campus of employees who are willing to assist with the project.
 
“The 2020 pandemic presents many challenges but it also presents a wonderful opportunity for us to thank and recognize some of our most important front-line safety workers…our wonderful custodians whose tireless daily efforts make our campus a safer place to work and learn,” Isaacson said.
 
Faculty and staff from across campus donated various dinner items such as stuffing mix, potatoes, rolls, butter, and canned goods such as olives and cranberry sauce. Some faculty and staff members also donated cash for the program. Aladdin (BHSU’s contracted dining services vendor) graciously donated all 27 turkeys. Isaacson expressed his thanks for Ron Showman and the whole Aladdin team who helped make this program a success.
 
The recipients of the food baskets expressed their gratitude and noted that it’s great to be appreciated for their ongoing efforts throughout the disruptions that COVID has caused on campus. Ed Idarraga, night time custodian, wrote this note of thanks.
 
“Thank you SO MUCH for the holiday basket! That is so much food my wife and I will really enjoy it all. We feel so blessed to be living in this community and for my employment at BHSU.  …The appreciation from you and BHSU really makes us feel like this is our forever home. Please pass on my appreciation.”