The University of Delaware’s Custodial Services staff members were greeted with a pleasant surprise on Friday, Oct. 2, when they found doors decorated with messages of thanks and encouragement, special displays, balloons and appreciation bags filled with treats.

To mark National Custodian Appreciation Day, the management team in Custodial Services took that opportunity to show the staff how important their work behind the scenes is to the University, keeping the campus clean, safe, healthy and functioning.

“There’s no such thing as ‘just a custodian,’” Katie Griffin, custodial manager in Custodial and University Services, said. “Our staff are the ones who are here on nights and weekends, the first in and the last out. Who knows more about the people and places and events than our custodians? And how many other people here know how to deal with bloodborne pathogens? And, years later, students still remember our custodians for what they’ve done for them.

“This was our way of saying thank you for all they have done and continue to do,” she said.

A post on the Working at UD Facebook page about the day attracted many “likes” and dozens of appreciative comments.