Most students eat lunch daily without thinking twice about all the work that gets put into the food they consume. Behind every meal served is a team of wonderful cafeteria workers who put so much effort and love into the food they make. Even though they play a big role, they are often overlooked. They greet students with the warmest smiles and such kind words. From planning the menu carefully to serving hundreds of meals to students, they have lots of patience, care, and organization.

Among these hard working individuals, Mrs. Donna Jones is a great worker that does not get recognized enough. While most might be sleeping, she wakes up early and starts her day. They start preparing lunch around 7:30 in the morning. Her day is filled with consistent activity, serving about “800-1000 meals daily.” These are no ordinary meals because “most of the food is hand made,” ensuring that students are getting fresh, quality meals. They make sure to run an organized schedule so that students are fed well and on time.

Mrs. Donna Jones generally enjoys what she does because of the “breaks, the hours, and most importantly working with kids.” Being around kids and interacting with them brings a sense of purpose and fulfillment. She always finds ways to create warm and welcoming environments to everyone that passes through the lines, students and staff, no matter how busy or stressful the work can be.

This might seem like an easy job, but it is not as simple as just cooking food and serving it. According to Mrs. Jones, there are “many strict guidelines” they must follow to ensure meals are healthy and meet school standards. Over the years, she has noticed that “school products have changed and meals have also developed,” which requires more attention to nutrition and control of proportions. 

If Mrs. Jones could change one thing about school lunches, it would be the way food is prepared. She wishes they were able to “fry more food,” but due to guidelines they have to bake it. Despite these limitations, Mrs. Donna Jones and all the cafeteria staff work hard to provide meals that students can enjoy.