Sterling Duncan, meals service stock management technician, retires on July 31 after 23 years at Akron Kids’s.
Some issues are reliable, like Arctic jackets and thermal underwear. And a few persons are reliable, like Sterling Duncan, Akron Kids’s meals service stock management technician, who takes pleasure in his work and wonderful attendance document. Put them collectively they usually can overcome dangerous conditions, together with heavy snowstorms that shut down a lot of Akron.
It was a wintery January day, however Sterling didn’t let unpassable roads cease him from working his 5 a.m. shift.
“I reside inside strolling distance to work,” he stated. “I personal an Arctic jacket. I put on thermal underwear to work, even throughout the summer time, as a result of I’m out and in of ultra-low temperature industrial freezers. I placed on my mountain climbing boots, did my greatest impression of Matthew A. Henson, the primary African American to succeed in the North Pole, and walked to work. It took a minute, however after I crested the hill and noticed Kids’s, I knew I made it.”
That is simply one of many causes that individuals who know him name him Tremendous Sterling. Equally exceptional are the setbacks he encountered, and overcame, in his 30’s. He handled unemployment, alcoholism and 7 years of being homeless. Regardless of these obstacles, he discovered stability and sobriety, crediting his second likelihood, partially, to Akron Kids’s.
After 23 years at Kids’s, Sterling retires on July 31. In addition to sleeping in, he plans to do what he already does: bicycling, attending Alcoholics Nameless assist group conferences, {golfing} when time permits and serving to individuals in his neighborhood. He may also proceed one in all his favourite pastimes, selecting up litter in his neighborhood, a meditative exercise that quiets his thoughts.
What introduced you to Kids’s? Who gave you your begin?
I used to be having fun with two years sobriety. I labored at a shifting firm sporadically and wished regular employment. I accepted a two-week, momentary dishwasher project at Kids’s. There have been a number of dishes to scrub, and other people in that job didn’t at all times come again. Sue Monsell, director of meals providers, noticed me return day after day. She provided me the job full-time.
I’m loyal to Kids’s. Once they employed me, they helped me break the cycle. Steady employment felt good. I used to be a accountable particular person once more.
Sterling Duncan, who’s educated in regards to the achievements and contributions of African Individuals, wears a t-shirt to have a good time Black Historical past Month at Akron Kids’s. Individuals who know him know that he likes to coordinate his hat with the clothes he wears.
Have you ever at all times labored in the identical division and function?
I labored as a dishwasher, however my supervisor seen I might learn and rely. She knew that after highschool, I had earned a four-year bachelor’s diploma from The College of Akron in mechanical know-how. Kids’s wished to make sure extra accuracy in its meals service stock management, which incorporates perishable and nonperishable meals, paper, and cleansing provides and tools. They wished an individual with my expertise. I used to be provided a full-time stocking job and started working as a list management tech.
What have your greatest contributions been whereas right here?
I’m very aggressive about sustaining meals security and avoiding contamination. I’m cautious about expiration and use-by dates. Any previous meals, we throw it out.
How has Akron Kids’s modified because you began right here?
Kids’s meals service has expanded over time. With the addition of recent buildings, our once-small space grew, too, and now accommodates a number of huge walk-in freezers and coolers and stocking cabinets.
What gave you probably the most satisfaction at work?
Realizing that the youngsters are getting nicely, and the work that I do is contributing to their therapeutic. The medical doctors maintain the youngsters, however as soon as they’re finished, then it’s meals that turns into the healer.
I grew up in poverty and know firsthand how necessary it’s for teenagers to have common meals. It’s one of many causes I embrace our mission assertion of treating all youngsters as in the event that they had been our personal, and turning no baby or household away based mostly on their means to pay.
Sterling Duncan wears a Superman costume on Halloween.
With so many little youngsters right here, did somebody or one thing particularly contact your coronary heart?
One time slightly lady got here operating out of her room and grabbed my leg in glee. Her mom needed to peel her off. I don’t have any youngsters. All the youngsters listed below are my youngsters.
What’s your concept of an ideal day?
Planning what must be finished and doing it to completion.
Do you’ve got any recommendation for individuals simply beginning at Kids’s?
Maintain an open coronary heart and thoughts and know why you’re right here. Don’t let individuals distract you from that.
What couldn’t you reside with out?
Meals and water. Kids’s has allowed me to take pleasure in each for a very long time.
What’s the final e book you learn?
“Twenty-4 Hours A Day” by Richmond Walker
