‘They didn't pay a dime': Lunch lady serves 18,400+ meals to school children over the summer for free, reigniting her passion for an under-appreciated career choice

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Aug 17, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

It's rare that a lamenting employee gets a redemption moment that reignites their passion–like the lunch lady in this next story. 

There's a lot of pressure on the working class when choosing a career. You obviously want to be able to make enough money to put food on the table, perhaps you would like to be at least a little bit fulfilled, and maybe you even want a little bit of glory. But for those of you out there who have a career based on a higher calling to do REAL good, sometimes the money and glory get lost in translation. 

You'd think that at this point, society would value those who actually help out the community, donning a higher dollar amount to their meager salaries, but even now, in 2024, it's the public servants who are the most under-appreciated workers in the job market. 

Lucky for the lunch lady in this next story, she learned over the summer the real reason she decided to follow the path of a public servant after serving more than 18,400 meals to underprivileged school children with food insecurity. Keep scrolling for the wholesome story of career shame redemption that'll make you wish you'd become a cafeteria server instead.

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    Cheezburger Image 10389213952
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    I spent all summer feeding kids for free, and it reaffirmed a few of my questionable life choices.
    via MyPoorChequebook
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    My career is in educational nutrition. I work as a kitchen manager for a rural school district in the US. Over the summer, for June and July, myself, alongside to
    via MyPoorChequebook
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    colleagues ran a food truck that stopped at four schools for half an hour each to distribute free meals. The two months flew by. I had dozens of heartfelt conversations with little folks across town. Most notably, a
    via MyPoorChequebook
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    little girl was just overjoyed one day because we had fresh apples. She told me that, "they don't have fresh fruit in her house." From that conversation forward, I made sure to serve a fresh piece of whole fruit with every meal. It
    via MyPoorChequebook
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    got to the point that we were sending my boss to the local grocery because nobody had really budgeted for fresh. Just for the canned . It felt good to do something so small but make a little person so damned happy.
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    Over two months, we served 18,406 meals to children in our community. They didn't pay a dime, and watching all the families come together to eat and play. Seeing them all
    via MyPoorChequebook
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    leap up in excitement when my truck turned the corner. I didn't expect to be a 39 year old lunch lady, but today I sure am glad this is where I ended up.
    via MyPoorChequebook
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    Gideonbh 10+ Years I think this is a really great idea and although I'm sure it's not uniquely yours I applaud you on taking the leap and doing it, I'd really like to find a way I can give back to my community as well. I look forward to your response and thanks for telling your story here and doing what you do.
    via Gideonbh
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    rojo-perro ⚫ My community has a program called Kids Aid. Every Friday during the school year, they send a backpack full of food home with any child who wants one, the school district provides free breakfast to all children, and
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    during the summer, they have several mobile units that go out daily to help provide free lunches to any children 18 and under. It all started when a man was walking his granddaughter to school and came across a little girl who was crying because she was hungry.
    via rojo-perro
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    themassiah Thank you for doing this, and thank you for what you do every day.
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    joyunauthorized. Fellow lunch lady here. I'm a sub so I come in when needed. It's the best job I've had in the food service industry.
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    juhesihcaa As someone that lives in a community like the one yours served, thank you. I know for a fact that those children (and parents) adored you.
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    Schoollunchplug Chef I did that work for 10 years. I came away with a different mindset from you, and it's ok. Stay positive!
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    CaptainCreepy. love you for this, cant believe how many bellies go unfilled in this country, its our greatest shame honestly. Housing its complicated, food isn't
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    Dakotareads I can only imagine how much fun and enjoyment came from this for all parties involved. Keep it going. Be the change you want to see in the world.
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    Danobing. Props to you, helping tackle food insecurity is an amazing thing to be a part of. I work with a group that provides food bags to schools and 100% of the kids get them in the school, need or not. The schools have opened food pantries with the food kids didnt need.
    via Danobing
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    It crushed my soul to go do deliveries and see kids so happy about having food over the weekend. Keep up the amazing work.
    via Danobing
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    StumbleOn I love this. I have spent a lot of time and money helping my local food bank. We're such a food I society and it's just not even funny. We treat like food stamps as some kind of thing we're spending too much
    via StumbleOn
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    on. EVERYONE. NO. MATTER. WHAT. deserves good food. Everyone. I do not care if you work a lot, or not at all. Don't care if you're wasting your life on drugs. I don't care! Everyone needs to eat!
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    thespeedofpain. It's crazy how good it feels to do good for others. It brings so much fullness to my life. That's not the reason to do these things, of course, but it's such a beautiful benefit. You did many, many good things this summer, man. I'm super proud of you. Thank you
    via thespeedofpain

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