Feel Good: Creekside Forest Elementary Students Celebrate Community Heroes

Feel Good: Creekside Forest Elementary Students Celebrate Community Heroes

At Creekside Forest Elementary, September 11 is a day to remember, honor and connect.

Each year, the campus welcomes military personnel, medical professionals, police officers, firefighters and other first responders for its annual Lunch With Heroes event. 

“Lunch with Heroes was created as a way to honor and thank the military personnel, medical professionals, police officers, firefighters and other first responders who serve our community every day,” said Creekside Forest Elementary Principal Kaitlyn Wishkoski. “We wanted to provide students with an opportunity to meet these community heroes in a positive and personal setting while building meaningful connections.”

The excitement begins when police cars, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles arrive on campus. Students get an up-close look at the vehicles and equipment, but the most meaningful part of the day happens around the lunch table.

Students sit with community heroes, hear their stories, ask questions and get to know the people behind the uniforms. Many of the heroes are also Creekside Forest parents and family members, making the experience even more special.

“Rather than simply seeing a police officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor or service member performing a job, students get to meet the person behind the profession,” Wishkoski said. “They learn about their interests, families, experiences and reasons for serving, which helps build understanding, trust and respect.”

Those interactions also help students connect what they learn in the classroom about community helpers to the real people who live and serve around them. Through conversations and shared experiences, students see firsthand the importance of service, leadership, dedication and kindness.

The event is made possible in part through the support of the Creekside Forest PTO, which provides lunch and helps with coordination and logistics.

For Wishkoski, the event reflects the strong bond between the school and its community.

“It speaks volumes about the strength and generosity of our community,” she said. “The willingness of so many professionals to take time out of their busy schedules demonstrates their commitment to supporting children and investing in the next generation.”

Ultimately, Lunch With Heroes is about more than meeting a firefighter or sitting beside a police officer. It gives students a firsthand lesson in what it means to serve others—and reminds them that they, too, can make a difference through kindness, leadership and service.