On Thursday, the Sigma Lambda Beta International fraternity held a special pre-Thanksgiving lunch for USC’s Aramark workers, contracted staff who do custodial and facilities around campus. The event at the Ronald Tutor Center included food, entertainment and a great big thank-you to workers who are often overlooked.
Sigma Lambda Beta, a historically Latino fraternity, treated the custodial workers to a celebration to recognize their hard work throughout the year.
“We’ve always thought about doing it right around Thanksgiving, right before Christmas, just as a way of like saying thank you,” said SLB member Matthew Vega. “I think it correlates really well with the time period we’re in.”
Last year, the fraternity had enough funding to provide goody bags which included Christmas mugs for all who attended. They said they quite couldn’t afford that year, but the celebration went on with food, music and a dance performance.
“This year we didn’t have enough, but we try to supplement that with a new form of entertainment, more food, more variety of food, and just reaching out to a greater audience,” Vega said.
One of the Aramark workers who attended was Juanita Reyes, a custodian who has worked at USC for 29 years.
“I’m very happy and proud of you all,” Reyes said in Spanish, “and more than anything, grateful that you’re taking us into account, and for thanking us. "
Reyes said she felt immense gratitude and joy from the USC community acknowledging their hard work around the campus.
Sigma Lambda Beta began this tradition a decade ago. After a few years off, they revived the thank you events about three years ago, and plan to do it again next year.