Love wears many hats in Geneseo
The students at St. Malachy Catholic School in Geneseo model hats knitted for them by their “lunch lady” Chelsie Pettie. Katrina Jensen/St. Malachy School
By Kimberly Souba
for The Catholic Post Online
GENESEO — When Chelsie Pettie, a cafeteria worker employed by Geneseo Public School District arrived at her post at St. Malachy Catholic School here last month, she had no idea of the distinction she was about to receive.
Pettie, who has served lunch to St. Malachy students for the past two years, adds a secret ingredient that isn’t so secret when one witnesses her interaction with the students.
“It takes an incredibly giving and loving person to go out of their way to make each child feel special.” — Megan Dwyer, St. Malachy school parent.
“I like to gift things,” Pettie said, noting that she wants the students to know they are loved no matter where they are or what they are doing.
PAYING IT FORWARD
Megan Dwyer, a parent of three students at St. Malachy School, nominated Pettie for the Pay It Forward Award sponsored by Ascentra Credit Union and WQAD News 8. “It takes an incredibly giving and loving person to go out of their way to make each child feel special,” Dwyer said.
Chelsie Pettie with (from left) first graders Remi Goff and Addy Anderson. Photo by Kimberly Souba/St. Malachy Parish
Dwyer went on to explain that the joy she sees on her children’s faces when they bring home surprises made just for them by Pettie is the “type of love and Christ-like behavior (that) makes St. Malachy so special.” The award came with a cash prize of $300, which Pettie plans to “pay it forward” to someone else.
“I bonded with my lunch lady, and I want them to remember bonding with their lunch lady.” — Chelsie Pettie
Teaching herself to knit and crochet 10 years ago when pregnant with her first child, Pettie said she starts making the hats in mid-May and finishes them over the summer.
However, this year there was a twist. With the help of St. Malachy’s teachers, Pettie surveyed the students about their favorite colors, book characters, and sports teams so that she could personalize each hat.
KIDS’ FACES LIT UP
“The kids were excited and shocked” when they received their customized gifts, which “filled me with even more joy seeing their faces all lit up,” said Pettie.
She recalls that as a child, “I bonded with my lunch lady, and I want them to remember bonding with their lunch lady.” She hopes the hats are “something that the kids will remember me by.”
Pettie added that she was “honored, and very humbled” to receive the Pay It Forward Award, but she doesn’t do it for recognition.
“I do it because I love it.”
