After disaster, a taste of the comforts of home
In the wake of a catastrophe, even simple things like a hot meal can make someone’s day. When a group of Great River Energy employees brought lunch to a school damaged by North Dakota flooding, the gesture represented much more than a free lunch.
Longfellow Elementary School in Minot, N.D., was damaged by historic flooding and is currently under re-construction. To accommodate the school year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helped put together a makeshift school with classrooms made of modular trailers connected by tin and plywood breezeway areas. The temporary school has no gym, lunchroom or any large common space area, so instead of a hot lunch program kids eat cold lunches every day.
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When a Great River Energy employee became aware of these conditions, the company and its employees found a way to help. An employee contribution committee purchased a hot meal of comfort food – meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn, bread and cake – and employees traveled to Minot to serve. |
“We set up in the breezeway with the roasters of food, dished them into individual containers and brought them to the classrooms,” said Great River Energy Communications Specialist Rachel Retterath. “The response from the kids and teachers was overwhelming. Kids couldn’t help themselves from giving hugs to our employees or hide their excitement for the hot food.”
