Fish said their fundraising efforts have been met with a positive response because of the goodwill Quincy House residents have toward the dining hall and custodial workers.

“As soon as people find out what we’re doing, they’re willing to help out,” Fish said. “People really like the staff a lot and they care about them.”

Russo and her fellow co-chair, Morgan A. Rowe ’03, said Dunster’s efforts have also been successful, raising about $840.

“Everyone was really generous,” Rowe said. “We asked for $5 from each student, and most people gave that much if not more.”

While representatives from Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) said they are supportive of students’ efforts to acknowledge their employees, HUDS spokesperson Alexandra McNitt emphasized that HUDS employees do receive holiday recognition from Harvard—albeit not in a monetary form.

“We have a comprehensive recognition program, which includes celebrations around the holidays,” McNitt said. “Each person also receives a gift. This year they will be getting a pair of nice gloves.”

McNitt said that the more than 600 HUDS staff members are acknowledged year-round and displays of appreciation are not limited to the Christmas season.

“At Thanksgiving every employee gets a 20 lb. turkey,” she said.

Employees are also officially recognized with gifts during September’s National Food Services Employees Week and at the end of the academic year.

“We have lots of ways to acknowledge the staff,” McNitt said. ‘There is more than enough recognition going around.”

Deputy Director of Labor and Employment James A. LaBua said no Harvard employees receive holiday bonuses and that fact has never been an issue in contract negotiations.

“I have sat in on a number of negotiations, and holiday bonuses have never been an issue of contention,” LaBua said.

“A Christmas bonus is something that is separate and distinct from Harvard University Dining Services,” LaBua said. “I think [students] are free to do whatever they would like to do, and if they want to do something to show their gratitude to the workers, they are free to do so.”

—Staff writer Jaquelyn M. Scharnick can be reached at scharnic@fas.harvard.edu