HISD construction and facility managers thanked their team members for the work they do by serving them lunch and handing out raffle prizes on Friday at the department’s annual appreciation luncheon.

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“They do a lot of hard work for us and work a ton of hours,” said Robert Sands, HISD’s Officer of Construction and Facility Services. “Everyone has their own special skill set, but together we make a team. This luncheon is just a small token of our gratitude.”

CFS, which has 1,961 employees, honored its staff with gift cards and prize baskets. A photo slideshow featuring photos of staff on the job was also shown at the program.

“This is a good company to work for,” said CFS employee Ralph Whitaker, who’s worked for the district for 29 years. “It feels good to be acknowledged for the work we do. Not everyone can tell us thank you personally, so it’s nice to come together as a group to be thanked.”

HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman said she was excited to come help serve meals to the employees as many prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving.

“This is a special time of year,” Eastman told the group. “I just want to thank you all for everything you do to help our schools run smoothly and to be safe places for our kids to learn, because you all are such a critical part of our district.”