The WSU dining commons served more than 1,000 people daily following the October snowstorm.
Maria Lees, Westfield State University dining commons manager, left and Sandra Lee Sporbert, center look on Thursday as Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik presents a proclamation to the staff of the dining commons in recognition of their community service during the October snowstorm.WESTFIELD – “Feeding people is our job,” Maria Lees, dinning commons manager at Westfield State University said.
That was her response to Mayor Daniel M. Knapik who stopped by the commons early Thursday to thank Lees and her 168-member staff for their service to the community following the October snowstorm.
“In my 17 years here that was the first extraordinary emergency,” said Lees. “We opened the doors of this dining facility to the community and served well over 1,000 meals each day for that week no one had power,” she said.
“Westfield is blessed to have you here,” Knapik told Lees and the dining crew. “The university and the dinning commons were invaluable during that time of need,” he said.
“I thank you on behalf of the community for your hospitality. You provide outstanding food at a cheap price,” the mayor said.
A proclamation Knapik delivered to Lees recognizes the dining facility, managed by Sodexo Dining Services, for its “contribution of assistance in the city’s emergency situation.”
“ A lot of really, really good people who didn’t realize we were here before came for meals and a warm place,” said Sandra Lee Sporbert who works at the commons. “We were here every day starting at 6 a.m. and they were so grateful. But, we only did what we do. I did enjoy the hugs they gave us,” she said.
Lees called the opening of the dining commons to the public “wonderful. This is something I have been trying to do for many years. We should be connected to the community,” she said.
During the week following the storm, the university also opened two shelters, one at Juniper Park School and the other at Scanlon Hall, serving more than 500 residents.
The dining hall remained open 24-hours that Saturday, Sunday and Monday and then was open to the public from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. the remainder of that week.