Behind the bustling cafeteria at Galena High School, a dedicated team of lunch ladies works tirelessly to ensure students have nutritious and satisfying meals. But their job often comes with challenges, from dealing with disrespectful students to the frustration of food waste. “I wish the kids would respect the kitchen,” Rose Casper said. Galena Unit Schools encourage “Be Kind” every day, but some experiences that GHS lunch ladies, Lynn Richerdson, Casper, and Sharon DuMuth, have had, say otherwise.
The GHS lunchroom staff has a set schedule from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. but they arrive at the GHS kitchen at 6:30 a.m. to start their daily routine. Their day starts off by pulling down the rails in the kitchen and turning on all the lights. They get breakfast out and set up the computer so students are able to come in before their first period and buy breakfast for 50 cents.
After breakfast is done, they start preparing lunch for the day. First, veggies are prepared, then the meat is fried, and lastly, the main dish is made. The first lunch is at 10:45 a.m. and the second lunch is served at 12:15 p.m., so they have three hours and a half to make food for everyone eating the hot lunch. However, their roles come with many challenges that often go unnoticed.
Casper said, “I stand here and watch if the kids like the food or not, and I’ve watched them throw away full containers of ranch and handfuls of ketchup not being open…that’s costing everybody extra money.”
Not only does food waste cause extra costs to be incurred by the students and the kitchen, but students treat the lunch workers with disrespect. Galena schools pride themselves on their “Be Kind” motto, however, this isn’t how students act in the lunchroom. “Kids just don’t have any respect and it’s sad because I love kids,” said Casper. “They’re throwing away their forks when they shouldn’t be, they don’t care.”
The lunch ladies at Galena High School are more than just food servers; they are members of our school community. Their dedication and resilience deserve our respect and gratitude. Let us strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated.
The next time you’re in the cafeteria, take a moment to consider the work that goes into providing your meal. How can you show your appreciation for the lunch ladies who work tirelessly to keep you fed and nourished?
