Food and nutrition services employees at Anne Arundel County Public Schools will get a boost in their paychecks.The district is giving the workers a $2,000 retention bonus with hopes the money will help fill 117 vacancies.Some employees received the first $1,000 installment of their bonuses on Wednesday, including those employed with AACPS last year.A second installment will hit their bank accounts on July 9, 2025, for workers who stay on for the rest of the current academic year.Employees who start working this year will get their first $1,000 bonus after three months. Retention bonuses for those employees will be based upon their length of service, with employees hired by Dec. 22, 2024, eligible for the full $1,000.This is the first retention bonus for food service staff, which the union said goes a long way.”In years past, when they haven’t had much appreciation, it just kind of makes them feel good when we’re appreciated for the job that we do because they love their job. A lot of them are here for the children specifically, and they care about these kids. So, to get a little bit of appreciation is huge,” said Delonya Akindoyo, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1693.Karina Sanchez, a food and nutrition service worker who is about to benefit from the bonus, said the news caught her by surprise.”I like to help with the little ones, with the kids. I’m excited to help them,” Sanchez told 11 News.”They get to see them every day. It’s like another family – another mom, another dad, it could be a grandmother or grandfather – just an extended family member that makes a difference when they’re serving these students each and every day,” said Jodi Risse, director of the district’s food and nutrition services.Leaders from the AFSCME union said they are continuing to work with the district on compensation, retention and recruitment strategies for these workers.The timing of this announcement came during National School Lunch Week.