The Office of Food and Nutrition Services proudly recognizes Mounir Raghouli for going above and beyond in service for District 01.

Since starting his career in the food and nutrition services in 2011, Mounir has shown outstanding dedication and leadership in his role as Senior School Lunch Aide/Cook Ambassador. His commitment to students, colleagues, and excellence makes a lasting impact every day.

Thank you, Mounir, for your continued service and dedication.

Maria’s devotion to her work shines through in her consistent, energetic approach to feeding our students. She brings enthusiasm to every task, from meal preparation to supporting her team, always putting students’ well-being first. Her work ethic, compassion, and upbeat attitude enrich our school community and ensure children receive not only nutritious meals but also kindness and encouragement each day.

Rosa has been a dedicated employee with OFNS since 2005, demonstrating unwavering dedication and a strong work ethic throughout her many years of service. Rosa began her career as a School Lunch Helper and worked her way up to an Assistant Cook. Rosa consistently maintains perfect attendance and is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure the students are well-fed and cared for. Rosa regularly volunteers to work holidays and supports her team wherever needed. Rosa is a pleasant and very respectful employee. Rosa truly is an asset to District 3. 

Ms. Sostre has been our head cook at JHS 117 for eight years. She connects well with the children and the whole school community. The kids know they can always ask her for a little extra of their favorite foods. She makes sure they have healthy choices every day. Ms. Sostre is always present, never missing a day, even when she is not feeling her best. She makes sure that every student has something to eat when they arrive at school. Not all heroes wear a cape; some wear an apron, and Ms. Sostre is definitely one of them.

Mariela is a true Hunger Hero who goes above and beyond every day to ensure the students of PS 123 receive safe, healthy meals prepared with care and consistency. Arriving early every day, she makes sure breakfast is ready and served on time, reflecting her dedication and strong work ethic. Since becoming Cook in Charge, she has transformed the PS 123 kitchen into an organized, efficient, and welcoming space that she proudly maintains as her own. Beloved by the students and highly praised by the school administration, Mariela’s commitment, leadership, and positive spirit make her an invaluable part of the school community and a shining example of excellence in service.

Claudia Cruceta has made an outstanding impact on our school community since stepping into her new role as Cook Manager. Previously a dedicated cook, Claudia has brought the same passion, reliability, and commitment to excellence into her leadership position. She consistently ensures that meals are not only nutritious and well-prepared but also welcoming and enjoyable for students. Claudia’s positive attitude, strong work ethic, and genuine care for both her team and the children have elevated the quality of our meal program and contributed directly to student well-being and success. Her growth, leadership, and unwavering dedication make her an exceptional asset to our school.

Gloria has worked in the District 7 field office for 8 years. She has excellent customer service and communication with all the staff and the school administration. She acted as the Office Manager for 8 months without additional compensation and officially became the office manager on February 6, 2026. She is always enthusiastic and eager to learn. Her ability to advise the team of District 7 managers and resolve situations on a daily basis is amazing. She has worked in the office independently with no assistance for the last two months ensuring that all 32 schools are staffed correctly, all payroll is submitted on time, and paperwork is in compliance. Thanks to her dedication and strong leadership the district can operate efficiently and serve delicious meals to our students daily. It is a blessing to have Gloria on my team.

Garry Walters has served as the Sr. School Lunch Helper at PS 583 for eight years. Garry cares deeply about his work. He is consistently punctual and dedicated, always ensuring that students are well-fed and receive the care and attention they deserve.

During my recent visit to the school, we stopped by the Pre-K classrooms during meal distribution. The moment Garry walked into the room, the teacher paused instruction so the children could greet him. The excitement and appreciation on their faces, as they joyfully welcomed “Mr. Garry,” demonstrated the strong connection he has built with the students and the school community.

Garry’s positive work ethic sets a powerful example for everyone around him. He is one of our most dedicated employees—not only at PS 583, but also on the food distribution truck in the Bronx, where he serves NYC students in the community with pride. He never hesitates to go the extra mile, whether in the school or out in the field. Mr. Garry is truly an invaluable member of our team.

Ms. Moreta is highly motivated. When we need an aide in the district to cover schools when cooks are out, Ms. Moreta always say yes with a smile. Ms. Moreta has a passion for cooking and taking care of our students and we really appreciate her in District 9. Thank you, Zara.

Ms. Zina Marku has been a valued employee with OFNS for over 18 years. Ms. Marku started her career in PS 279 as a School Lunch Helper, where she excelled and was always looking for a challenge and when the opportunity presented itself, Zina applied and was granted the position of Cook-in-charge at PS 37. Zina’s love for her job led her to challenge herself even more by becoming a cook manager in PS 37. Zina is adored by the students and school administration because of the passion she displays on a daily basis. The love Zina has for cooking and serving others is apparent in the presentation of the meals served to the school community at PS 37.

She goes above and beyond daily preparing safe meals for the students for the serving lines as well as last minute trips for meals, and snack request. She ensures that the kitchen / cafeteria is always clean. She has excellent attendance and is a true team worker. She is willing to work in any schools on holidays, emergency sites, or cleaning school project. She is very respectful to students, coworkers, and administrative staff.

Mr. William Picard has worked as our Senior School Lunch Helper / HDP at P.S. 195 for 3 ½ years. He is a dedicated and proactive member of our team who embodies what it means to be a hunger hero in the kitchen. Mr. Picard consistently ensures the kitchen is kept impeccably clean and organized, going above and beyond to assist fellow employees as needed. He has a meticulous eye for detail and takes great pride in detailing and maintaining a spotless kitchen environment.

During the summer of 2025, Mr. Picard mentored two summer youths, demonstrating best practices for cleaning, food preparation, and adherence to OFNS guidelines. He shared practical techniques, explained why each step matters, and provided hands-on guidance to ensure the youths could perform tasks safely and efficiently. Mr. Picard taught them that no task is too small to deserve careful attention and pride in the work. His mentorship not only improved their skills but also reinforced a culture of responsibility, respect for food safety, and a patient, thorough approach to every responsibility.

Mr. Picard’s blend of reliability, proactive leadership in the kitchen, and commitment to mentoring others makes him a true asset and an inspiring example of what a hunger hero can achieve.

Ms. Ingrid Emmanuel has twenty-nine years with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services. Eight of those years she has been the cook in charge at George Westinghouse High School. During those years she has forged a great relationship with the students, whom she refers to as her kids. There are times when Ms. Emmanuel is alone at the school while waiting for assistance but still manages to provide excellent service to the students. Ms. Emmanuel’s food is also always very well presented at all times.

Ms. Allison Anderson has demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication throughout this school year. She remains committed to engaging students by ensuring they receive nutritious, well‑balanced meals each day. Her enthusiastic support of the District’s mission, along with her consistent reliability and positive presence, reflects the standard of excellence we strive to uphold within our team. Her contributions are both valued and deeply appreciated.

Myrna consistently follows recipes with precision to ensure the highest quality results. She goes above and beyond to make sure all foods are prepared and cooked to perfection. Her attendance record is outstanding, reflecting her dedication and reliability.

She takes great pride in her work and thoughtfully anticipates her students’ likes and dislikes when planning and forecasting. Her guidance, strong work ethic, and commitment to excellence are true assets to her cafeteria culture. The feedback from both staff and students is consistently positive.

Myrna is a respectful leader and a true pleasure to work with.

Mr. McDowell has been a dedicated and valued member of our organization for the past three years. Throughout this time, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional reliability, professionalism, and a strong commitment to supporting not only his assigned site but the entire district.

He is consistently present and punctual, and he willingly goes above and beyond expectations. Whether it’s staying late, arriving early, or working weekends, Mr. McDowell never hesitates to assist with programs, special events, or facility needs. His flexibility and strong work ethic make him an invaluable resource to every team he supports.

Mr. McDowell is a true team player whose positive attitude, dependability, and willingness to help leave a lasting impression on every site he serves.

Corry Benolt as been with the district 17 team for over over seven (7) years as a Sr. School Lunch Helper/ HDP, currently assigned to IS 340. During this time Corry has proven to be invaluable to the district, going above and beyond to ensure that the students at IS 340 receive nutritious and delicious meals every day. His commitment and dedication to excellence is evident in his reliability and strong work ethic. Corry demonstrates a kindness and willingness to serve, that extend beyond his direct duties. Corry is a team player and an integral part of district 17’s success, always serving with a smile!

Mr. Grant is an exceptional manager whose leadership inspires everyone around him to strive for excellence. Through his strong belief in teamwork, he creates an environment where every voice is valued and collaboration leads to success. His dedication and tireless work ethic set a powerful example, motivating others to give their best each day. With patience, integrity, and clear vision, he guides his team through challenges while celebrating their achievements, proving that true leadership is not only about result but about empowering people to grow, succeed, and feel proud of the work they accomplish together.

Argentina has been employed with OFNS since 2022. Argentina is a courteous, dedicated and reliable individual who is an asset to this organization. I commend Argentina for her work ethic and positive attitude towards her students and staff throughout the years of service with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services.

Sophia is currently the Cook In Charge at P.S. 310. She has been the with O.F.N.S for 14 years. She has been the Cook In Charge for over 12 years. Sofia is very creative and reliable. According to her manager “she is simply the best.” Sophia goes above and beyond every day to ensure the students receive and healthy nutritious meals that not only taste good but also look good.

Sandra Ali is the Cook Manager at PS 225 in District 21. Her dedication to the students at the school is shown in the exceptional professionalism she displays and the consistently high-quality daily offerings she presents to our customers. Sandra is also an important part of our school community. She is an outstanding promoter of OFNS’s values and mission as she works closely with the administration, community groups and students to ensure positive relationships and cooperation.

Sharon Is a wonder to be around. Great with the students, staff and administration. She knows everyone’s name.

Marcella Ware is currently the cook at P.S. 165 and has worked for OFNS for 18 years. Ms. Ware was chosen to be our Hunger Hero because she runs an outstanding operation at 165. Her attendance is impeccable, she’s outstanding, dedicated, hardworking and committed to her school community.

I am nominating Mr. Narea for the “Hunger Hero” Hall of Fame. This is to acknowledge his extraordinary hard work, commitment and dedication towards the students in the district 24 community. Mr. Narea is a senior school lunch helper at PS/IS 113 The Anthony J. Pranzo School. He is very dependable; he has had 100% punctuality / attendance for the past four years he has been in this school. The students, administration and co-workers have nothing but positive things to say about him and almost all the students know him as Ivan. Mr. Nerea does not just do only a Heavy-Duty Person job, he is always ready to jump in and fill any position where he is needed without question and sure enough, he does a great job in any position he is covering. I remember an incident when the cook and assistant cook were absent in the school, Mr. Nerea served breakfast to all the students by him and was getting lunch ready when the manager arrived at the school. That is the kind of employee he is and that is why he deserves to be a “Hunger Hero”.

I am pleased to nominate Janei Bostic for District 25’s Hunger Hero Award. Janei serves as a School Food Service Manager for four different schools, and she consistently goes above and beyond the responsibilities of her position. Her dedication to ensuring students receive nutritious meals each day is evident in the care, organization, and professionalism she brings to every site she supports.

In addition to managing multiple schools, Janei regularly volunteers to cover additional locations when other managers are absent. She has even stepped in to support schools outside of her assigned district when needed. Her willingness to help wherever she is needed demonstrates her strong work ethic and deep commitment to our students and community.

Janei maintains a consistently positive attitude and leads by example. She inspires her staff through her teamwork, reliability, and encouragement, creating a supportive and productive work environment. Her leadership not only strengthens her teams but also ensures smooth and efficient operations across all the schools she serves.

For her outstanding dedication, flexibility, and commitment to student nutrition, I proudly nominate Janei Bostic for the District 25 Hunger Hero Award.

Amani Abdallah’s journey is a powerful testament to dedication, heart, and true leadership. Since joining us 10 years ago as a School Lunch Helper, Amani has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence. Through hard work and perseverance, she rose to become Cook in Charge at Cardozo High School. Amani does far more than prepare meals. She leads her staff with respect, encouragement, and high standards. The love and attention she pours into her cooking is evident in every breakfast and lunch served. She understands that a warm meal can set the tone for a student’s entire day, and she approaches that responsibility with both compassion and professionalism. She often states she spends more time at work than she does in her own home. Under her leadership the breakfast and lunch participation has grown to over 2,500 meals per day. She exemplifies what it means to serve with heart, and the student community has been impacted by her service in a meaningful way.

Ms. Vilma has proudly served the Office of School Food Services for fourteen years, exemplifying dedication, professionalism, and heartfelt commitment in every aspect of her work. Throughout her years, she has remained unwavering in her devotion to the students of New York City public schools, ensuring they receive not only nutritious meals but also kindness and care each day. Her outstanding attendance and reliability reflect a deep sense of responsibility and pride in her role.
Ms. Vilma consistently brings an extraordinary level of care and attention to detail to every recipe—truly “love on a platter.” She goes above and beyond to ensure that each meal is prepared with excellence, warmth, and compassion. Her exceptional customer service, positive attitude, and genuine connection with students create a welcoming environment that makes a meaningful difference in their daily school experience.
For her years of exemplary service, unwavering commitment, and the lasting impact she has made on the school community, Ms. Vilma is most deserving of this award.

MD has truly made a significant impact since becoming the second cook at Edison. His passion and dedication to his work are evident, and his commitment has had a positive effect on the students at Edison High School. Whenever coverage is needed at another school, he consistently steps in without hesitation. I have never received a “no” from him, and I sincerely appreciate his reliability and willingness to ensure that students are never left without a meal, no matter where he is assigned.

Mr. Livermore is always ready to try the new recipes and promote new menu items in his CEE site. He loves having a clean and organized kitchen every day for our students. He always visits the line during lunch service to engage the students and encourage them to eat. Mr. Livermore has always been a great part of a cleaning crew for the district he leads every crew member within the sites that needs to be cleaned and ensures they are restored to a bright shining and new look. He is always positive and ready to help in all situations, and he is always at work and is a very reliable employee.

We are proud to nominate Ms. Sophia Michelakis as the 2026 Hunger Hero of District 30. She serves as the Senior School Lunch Helper – Cook at PS 78 in Long Island City, Queens where she oversees meal service for the Early Childhood Center. She provides nutritious meals to students from Pre-K to 2nd grade, ensuring that our youngest learners begin each day nourished and ready to succeed. Ms. Michelakis has been a dedicated member of the Office of Food and Nutrition Services since 2006 – a total of 20 years. Her hard work and commitment are consistently recognized by the school administration.
Whether she is preparing the day’s recipe or curating a vibrant salad bar, Sophia pours her heart into everything she does. This is made evident by her constantly increasing student participation during lunch. She is currently feeding almost 90% of the students registered in her school. Beyond serving delicious and nutritious meals, she creates a warm and inviting environment for her students. To Sophia, her role in OFNS is more than a job – it is one of her biggest joys to bring unity and a sense of community to PS 78.

An organized, proactive and professional employee with 10+ years of experience, dedication to streamlining administrative procedures to boost efficiency and foster a positive, collaborative work environment for District 31 employees and managers.

Ms. Boston has been working very hard at her CEE location Evergreen M.S. for Urban Exploration (32562). They feed an average of 360 Breakfast & 765 Lunch to students in her building. This building includes Charter, D75, and their satellite, Ujima. She continues to have a positive attitude daily, regardless of the workload.

As Special Services Supervisor, Ms. Marrazzo oversees the trucking of satellite meals, uniform distribution, and the coordination of kitchen use by outside partners—just to name a few of her official responsibilities, among other unofficial duties Carmel assumes. Her dedication to the mission and commitment to excellence are unmatched. Carmel demonstrates patience with the OFNS community and vendors alike, yet she balances that patience with firm accountability. She ensures vendor compliance, monitors timely meal pick-ups and deliveries, and takes the time to thoroughly investigate every concern before rendering judgment or implementing a resolution, sorting through pages and pages of violations generated. Carmel is never hesitant to clearly and directly communicate expectations to vendors—what needs to be done, when it needs to be done (usually now), and why it matters. She consistently reinforces their responsibility in serving NYC students. At the same time, she holds our own OFNS teams to the same high standards. She is candid when we fall short, yet she continues to train, retrain, explain, and guide all 32 districts with professionalism and persistence. For Carmel, there is no such thing as a strict seven-hour shift or a true “day off.” She answers calls, responds to emails, and solves problems regardless of what her Cybershift clock might suggest. While many of us say that feeding NYC students is our top priority, Carmel truly lives by that principle every single day. It is an honor to work alongside her, and I proudly nominate Carmel Marrazzo as a Hunger Hero.

Veronica is one of the most helpful and genuine people you will ever meet. As a quality assurance specialist, she plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and quality of school meals, directly protecting student health and well-being. Through diligent inspections, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through on corrective actions, she helps prevent risks before they reach students. Her commitment supports a safe, reliable meal service.

While Kimberly Nelson doesn’t directly work with the Public Schools, her impact in the OFNS Warehouse Office certainly has not gone unnoticed. She always comes to work with a positive attitude, and is always willing to go above and beyond, no matter what the task.

She is on top of the warehouse inventory, making sure the inventory is current and accurate.

Kimbery is constantly in touch with the schools ensuring the school delivery sheets are signed and filled out accurately. This ensures the information in the WHAM system is timely and accurate. She is an asset to the OFNS warehouse team.

William has worked for the city of NY as an exterminator for 25 years. William goes above and beyond to safeguard our schools from all types of pests in all 5 boroughs. He puts his heart into the job as if he is protecting his own children every day. He is a Hero!

Michael Sterling has worked in the Department of Education, Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) for 16 years, first as a Senior School Lunch Helper, then as a Cook and currently as a Compliance Coordinator with the Compliance unit. In all levels of his work Michael has been involved in ensuring all meals served to NYC students are safe, nutritious, delicious and meet City, State and Federal standards.

Fatima Marshall has worked with the OFNS for 24 years and has been the Deputy Director in Special Programs for the past 16 years. She has played an instrumental role in ensuring that our customers have the necessary systems in place to apply for afterschool, weekend, and holiday services. She always goes above and beyond to support and assist our principals, Community-Based Organization Programs, and field staff. These are services that our customers, who are our principal’s and children depend on daily. There have been principals that appreciated her taking the time to stay on the phone while they submitted their online application or even go as far to submit it on their behalf.

Khadija currently serves as the Regional Director for Manhattan, where she oversees daily operations across more than 200 schools. In this role, she ensures schools are properly staffed, staff are trained, and that all meals served meet USDA standards and align with New York City food policy. Her team is responsible for providing breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks to every Manhattan public school student each day.

What makes Khadija’s story especially compelling is that she is the only Regional Director who began her career as a frontline kitchen worker. She previously worked as a school lunch helper and later as a cook, preparing meals for a middle school of approximately 500 students. Having “worn every hat” in school food operations, she brings a rare, firsthand perspective to her leadership—grounded in lived experience and deep understanding of the daily realities faced by school food professionals.

Her journey from cooking in a single school kitchen to overseeing operations across 200+ sites speaks to both her dedication and the critical role school nutrition plays in students’ lives. Khadija is passionate about ensuring students have consistent access to safe, nutritious meals and takes great pride in supporting the staff who make that possible every day.