Help Mike Simoncini, Devoted Food Service Director

Mike was diagnosed in 2023 with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, with symptoms presenting as early as 2022. MS attacks the myelin sheath in the brain and spine, causing considerable damage and lesions. He also has an unknown auto-immune disease coinciding with the MS. How the doctors have put it he is a very unique case! It has affected his walking tremendously, memory, balance, and always feeling tingling & numbing through his extremities, extreme fatigue. It has rapidly taken over his life. Mike has fought diligently over the past 3 years to manage this disease, hoping he could maintain his quality of life. After spending 15 years with the students, the staff, and his coworkers, he never thought of this as a job but his second home! It is with a heavy heart that Mike has made the decision he can no longer maintain his career due to the MS. In his words, “My primary progressive multiple sclerosis has made me ineffective at my job and it is not fair to the students and my staff and you to leave them in limbo with who’s leading them.” That leads us to Mike’s current situation: mounting medical bills, travel expenses, a future with no steady income for bills and food and two boys that he desperately wants to be able to provide for. We are asking for your support as it would be greatly appreciated to help us achieve these goals. It has been heartbreaking and emotionally exhausting to see Mike fight such a devastating neurological diagnosis, and we are hoping to take this latest pressure off his mind.

Mike's passions are his two sons, Peyton and Jackson, his wife Juli of 7 years, and his position as the Food Service Director for Pinelands Regional SD, Egg Harbor SD, Tuckerton SD, and Eagleswood SD. After running numerous restaurants and nursing home food service programs, Mike began his career with Nutri-Serve Food Management in 2010 and found his home. He quickly became respected and loved throughout the school districts and Nutri-Serve. Also, has been a great support for his community when times were hard and people were in need through the after effects of Hurricane Sandy putting meals together and delivering in places of need and set up at each school meals for when Covid hit. Mike's attention was never on himself and always on the students and staff. He created new meals for both students and staff to not only meet their expectations but to exceed them. Having to rely on the kindness of others to get him through this next year while waiting for permanent disability is the last thing Mike ever expected to happen. Thank you in advance for the love and support!