Last week, I was invited to an elementary school in South Riding, VA. The principal called an “emergency” faculty meeting after school.  But this wasn’t an emergency in the traditional sense; she just wanted to be sure everyone was there… and on time… so that I could deliver some exciting news.

You see, at this school there’s a very special first grade teacher. She’s the kind that you remember when you’re all grown up as one of your favorite teachers. Well, this special teacher has breast cancer, and she’s fighting for her life. She’s scared and exhausted but she comes to school every day and does amazing things with and for the children.  I was brought there before the entire faculty and administration to share the news with this first grade teacher, Susan Marrinan, her husband and her daughter that she was named the recipient of Pink Dish!-For-A-Year, a year of free meals from Let’s Dish! as part of Let’s Dish!’s Pink Dish Campaign.

In October, 50 local families were nominated by their communities as part of our Pink Dish! Campaign.  Thanks to the generosity of Let’s Dish! customers and staff, all nominated families will receive healthy, convenient meals to help them face the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.  And, Susan, who was nominated by 150 separate people, learned that she was going to get a free Let’s Dish! order every month for an entire year. That’s 96 dinners to feed her family of three. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Jill Malinchock, school secretary at Little River Elementary and Susan’s colleague, shared with us, “These meals will relieve the stress and guilt of wanting to provide dinners for the family but being too tired to be able to do it. It will be a big help for Susan and her family to have healthy fresh meals when they need them most.”  Jill, who along with several other teachers as well friends and family, organized the nomination push for Susan, added, “When Susan receives these meals each month she will be reminded how much we love and honor her and how much we appreciate what she does for our children.”

That was one of the highlights of my professional career and my life.  I am proud to work for a company that makes such a difference in our communities.  And I was delighted to be the bearer of such wonderful news.

RELATED LINKS:

- A Pink Dish! Success Story, Thanks To You
- WMAR Tells the Pink Dish! Story
- Elizabeth Dishes Pink on WUSA9
- The Pink Dish! Campaign website: www.letsdish.com/pinkdish