Waffle House thanks school transportation workers with sandwich donation

In a show of appreciation for the St. Johns County School District’s transportation professionals, Waffle House recently donated 500 breakfast sandwiches to the department.

The Transportation Department plays a critical role in students’ education – it ensures that children and youth get to and from school safely.

The pandemic has created extra challenges for these professionals. They must oversee assigned seating, safety protocols such as face coverings and increased sanitation efforts.

“Our team of transportation professionals – bus operators, attendants and mechanics – are exceedingly focused on the safety of children – especially during these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Alfred A. Pantano, director of transportation for the district. “We are appreciative of Waffle House’s incredibly kind donation during the holiday season to show our staff how much we value their hard work and sacrifices.”

On Dec. 18, Waffle House staff from the restaurant’s 2729 State Road 16 West location, along with Waffle House’s regional vice president, Corey Pollack, and District Manager Steve Berlofsky, delivered the breakfast sandwiches to the school district’s Transportation Department’s Operations Center.

“We actually had some sandwiches left over because Waffle House was so generous with their donation,” said Monica Thurston, bus operator and recruiter for the department. “I ended up bringing what was left to St. Gerard Campus, a nonprofit here in St. Augustine. It was amazing to continue to pay it forward – especially around the holidays.”