Neighbors serve up bus stop breakfast
JACKSON TOWNSHIP — Friday morning was filled with the sound of chatter from students waiting for the bus on their last day of school and the smell of fresh scrambled eggs cooked by their parents.
The food was for the sixth annual Breakfast at the Bus Stop, a meal prepared by residents of the Gristmill Road neighborhood for students heading out for their last day of school this year in the Seneca Valley School District.
“The parents are out here every morning saying goodbye to their kids anyway, so this is one way to put closure to the year,” said parent and volunteer Diane Shaffer.
Neighbors were on the side of the road by the bus stop about 6 a.m. with heated trays filled with eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles and more, enough to feed 30 to 40 people, according to breakfast coordinator Jeff Stahl.
Two groups of students enjoyed the morning festivities. The middle school students came about 6 a.m. for the early bus arrival. Then the elementary school students arrived around 7 a.m. for the later bus.
“I just remember how fun it was,” Stahl said about the last day of school. “Then I thought this is a better way to kick off the summer.”
The breakfast was started six ago by parents who wanted to do something special for kids.
“It’s nice to see the kids get older year after year and get ready for their next year, and it’s nice to see the parents catch up,” said parent and volunteer Danielle Beres.
Stahl said the annual breakfast started with just a camping stove, but has since grown to where multiple heated pans, trays and cookers are used.
Parents and volunteers bring food in a pot luck style. Beverages like coffee, milk and orange juice were also brought.
“Usually each family has their own little niche of what they bring,” said Beres, who brought sausage.
Kids enjoyed the surprise to go along with their shortened day of class.
All students from grades 7 through 11 were released at 10:30 a.m., while students from grades K through 6 were released at 11:15 a.m.
Stahl said the best part of the breakfast is the social aspect.
“The kids are excited. It’s hard to get them up normally, but today it’s like Christmas morning for them,” he said.
“It just really affects the camaraderie of this neighborhood,” said Shaffer. “We all take care of each other and this signifies the closeness. We’re all one big family.”
