Rooted in Appreciation

The Custodian Project (formerly the University of Washington Custodian Project) began in March 2020 when daughter of UW custodians and recent UW MPH and MSW graduate, Evalynn Romano, started the Pan de Sal + Kape Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She wanted to acknowledge the work of UW custodians while also support small local businesses. ​Evalynn started with making thank you notes in her living room with her roommate.

I started this appreciation effort back in March because I was seeing many similar efforts for healthcare workers and none for our valuable custodians. This was a way to show my pride and appreciation for my parents’ line of work. I want custodians to feel recognized and appreciated for their work that is often overlooked and taken for granted.

March 29, 2020: Evalynn and her roommate writing thank you notes for UW custodians.

Evalynn holding boxes of pastries donated by Macrina Bakery.

To show her appreciation to custodial staff, Evalynn served breads and pastries, coffee, thank you notes, and hand-sewn masks to custodians each week (March - November 2020) rotating between the seven areas of the UW Seattle campus to serve approximately 280 custodial staff and management per one rotation.

• Pan de sal and pan de coco (traditional Filipino bread) were purchased at Despi Delite Bakery, and 350+ pounds of bread and pastries were generously donated by Macrina Bakery.
• Coffee was purchased at local coffee shops or made by Evalynn from beans donated by friends and the International Drop-In Center: Filipino Senior & Family Services (IDIC).
• Thank you notes were created by many people inside and outside the UW community.
• Hand-sewn masks were made by love from friends and also donated by API Chaya.

In addition, Evalynn made deliveries to the UW 10 Recycling Operations staff and UW Medical Center’s 200 housekeeping staff. Evalynn raised over $18,000 to fund bread, coffee supplies, and grocery gift cards. ​

Art & Advocacy

Evalynn was determined to continue building on the momentum of her appreciation and awareness efforts--with support from the Campus Sustainability Fund, she created and led the UW Custodian Photography Project. 

This project used photography-based storytelling (i.e., photovoice) to capture and share the lived experiences of 16 UW custodians and their communities. It also aimed to inform UW in how to best support their custodial staff during the pandemic and thereafter.
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Central to the project were these three questions:
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1. What does your work look like for you? How does your work affect your health?
2. What does your home or neighborhood look like for you? How does your home or neighborhood affect your health?
3. How can the University of Washington best support your work and health?

To see the photos and stories from this project 

Explore the Gallery

UW Department of History provided a lovely space for the photovoice sessions.

Comfortable Shoes & Ingat Packages

As Evalynn amplified the stories shared through the UW Custodian Photography Project to advocate for systemic changes, she also wanted to address some of the immediate health and wellness needs for custodians. In Spring 2021, one year after the start of the pandemic, Evalynn raised nearly $20,000 to purchase comfortable walking shoes for all UW custodians to recognize their continued work to keep the community safe and healthy. Over 200 UW custodians were personally fitted by Super Jock 'N Jill staff and community members, and given Ingat ("take care" in Tagalog) packages. 

Over 200 Ingat ("take care" in Tagalog) packages were delivered. Each package included a pair of shoes, cloth mask, hand sanitizer, snack, and thank you note.

Evalynn delivering Ingat packages to custodians on campus.

Custodians showing off their new shoes.

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