Served 70,000 Meals Out Of A Parking Lot: Cortlandt Local Hero

CORTLANDT, NY — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. Together with Ring, we’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Rosemary Boyle Lasher who nominated Clare Keenan Carey of Peekskill. Lasher says:

Carey is the head of nutrition for the Hendrick Hudson School District in Montrose. Since the COVID-19 shut-down on March 13, she and her kitchen staff have served hot food either from the parking lot of the Hendrick Hudson High School or Frank G. Lindsey School every day to anyone who needs it but most especially to the school children who would have been in school.

On top of that Cary has a degree in theatre and in addition to the role as head of Nutrition for the district Clare is also the Director of the High School Theatre program overseeing many years of great stage productions with many talented teenagers.

Every day since March 13 Clare has done a Facebook video to announce the day's menu but also to bring smile and some humor to everyone. It started simple with a hat from the theatre closet. Well that turned into Moms and Dads and Grandmas making hats for Clare to do themed daily videos with.

That daily video has turned into an amazing following on Facebook where even people who don't care what is on the menu log in to Facebook to see Clare and the hat she might be wearing that day and to hear something positive and uplifting during what is and has been such heavy dark times for all.

Name: Clare Keenan Carey

State: NY

Home town: Peekskill

Hero's job: Education

Relationship to nominee: Friend

Reason for recognition: As Head of Nutrition for Hendrick Hudson High School, Clare and
her staff have served over 70,000 meals to our children out of a parking lot!

One thing to know: Clare is also director of the H.S. Theatre program as she has a
degree in theatre. Each day Clare does a Facebook VIDEO with her own special hat and
sense of humor. It has proven to be so uplifting to not only all the students, but also
seniors!

Thank you for all you do, Clare!

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