Thousands of essential workers have continued to work since the start of the pandemic, including many who work inside the city's public schools.

Employees at George Gershwin Junior High School shared their stories of working through the pandemic with News 12.

Some of the essential workers have been going into school buildings from day one. They say working during a pandemic has been challenging but that they knew they had a community to serve.

They also say they are committed to coming in every day to make sure the work gets done. Whether it was helping families cross the street, working in the kitchen to cook and prepare fresh meals or working firsthand with students for emotional support, they say it was a team effort.

“It was very hard for all of us, but we bear the bridges we walked and came out on top,” says Alisson Boston, senior school lunch aide cook.

The Local 372 union represents many of these workers, including paraprofessionals, health aides, school lunch employees and more. The union wants it to be remembered that these workers too are the reason schools are able to properly run every day.