On the first Thursday in December, the 120-member Fayette County Retired Teachers Association did not meet for the normally-scheduled luncheon; but one tradition was still maintained—despite the obstacles posed by COVID-19—by the Community Service committee: the “Banana Express.”

Committee chair Diana Febo and members Janet Martin and Nancy Mowery were aided by their husbands in sorting 325 bananas and signed greeting cards, then delivering them to Fayette County’s six care facilities.

FCRTA Historian Lauran Perrill was consulted as to the starting date of this annual Christmastime event. She found the first publicized reference to it in a December 1986 Record-Herald clipping, thus for at least 35 years the retired teachers have been spreading cheer to the residents of area nursing homes.

This year, of course, no individual rooms could be visited.

FCRTA’s 2020 “Banana Express” community service project was carried out by (from left) Bob and Janet Martin; Nancy and Steve Mowery; and (at right) committee chair Diana Febo.

https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2020/12/web1_banana-express-2020-3-.jpgFCRTA’s 2020 “Banana Express” community service project was carried out by (from left) Bob and Janet Martin; Nancy and Steve Mowery; and (at right) committee chair Diana Febo. Photo courtesy of Paul Febo