Lisa Griep, Food Services Supervisor for the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) and her team, the “WUSD COVID-19 Lunch Squad,” were awarded the WUL Hometown Hero Award on Monday “For their dedication, talents and caring each week as they plan, prepare and pack thousands of meals for students during the COVID-19 Crisis.” Lisa’s team members are:  Tootie Behrens, Cindy Ziebarth, Pam Duerst, Elizabeth Dempich, Julie Dempich, Patty Germundson, Lisa Hough, Joyce Leverenz, Carol Kuchan, Storm Langhoff, John Meyer, Susan Stone and Josie Czerpak.  As of last week, they have served 54,695 meals (Breakfast and Lunch) to students in our community. 

The Prep Team of Tootie Behrens, Cindy Ziebarth and Pam Duerst work an additional 3-4 days a week preparing and portioning the next week’s distribution.  Joyce Leverenz and Patty Germundson have secured several bag donations to place the meals in for distribution.  

Nelson Bus is providing transportation to four distribution sites.

Meals are distributed to any student under age 18 on Mondays from 11 a.m.-Noon at the following seven sites: 

Washington Elementary

Whitewater Woods, Newcomb Street

Whitewater High School

Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park, N. Walton Drive

Wright’s Mobile Home Park, N. County Line Rd

Garden Apartments, N. Tratt Street

Lincoln Elementary

Following is a message from Lisa Griep, who leads the WUSD Food Services:

 “To the untrained eye, packing a lunch does not seem to take much effort.  However, planning, preparing and packing a week’s worth of meals for hundreds of students requires exceptional staff to utilize and demonstrate their many talents. We could not complete this daunting task without the pure determination, dedication and talent demonstrated by my ‘COVID-19 Lunch Squad.’ 

I’m blessed and honored to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of individuals who put students and their families above their own needs and personal safety. The WUSD COVID-19 Lunch Squad simply ROCKS!!!  They all deserve a ‘Virtual High Five’!!”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com