Lunch Served with a Side of Hometown Hospitality at Homer High

Lunch. A wonderful time. But what makes it so wonderful? Going through the line as usual, you may not see it at first, but it’s the people behind the counter that brighten up the atmosphere of the cafeteria every day. Most of us won’t notice, but the cafeteria (and specifically lunch) staff often say ‘no problem, sweetie,’ or ‘here you go, hun’ to our simple proclamations of ‘I’ll have the pizza, please.’ Heck, most of us barely remember to thank the hands that feed us! When speaking with the average student about their opinion on the “lunch ladies,” many responded with this: one freshman said that they hadn’t really noticed all the kind words that go into the service behind the counter. An upperclassman, however, replied with “They’re like the nicest people in the school, honestly.” Clearly, it is imperative that someone call attention to the wonderful personalities that stand behind those lines every day and tend to our every food-related need. These are some amazing people who should be recognized and thanked for all they do for us. Sitting down to talk with one of the cafeteria staff, here’s what was said: When asking about the way they handle the usual lunch rush and typical grumpy-teen group, Mrs. O’Connell stated that “being prepared” was the key to their success. Speaking of the usual sunny disposition of the cafeteria staff and specifically how they managed to keep their good attitudes, she replied with “We try to make it carry over to the students.” They put such effort into making our days just that much happier. There is a problem, though. When asking if the staff believed that students respected the work that they do on the daily, the answer was “For the most part.” For the most part? For the most part? That is unacceptable. Please, let’s take at least a few extra seconds today to simply thank the people in the cafeteria. Take your trays up at the right time, try not to make a mess. Enjoy your lunch, but don’t abuse the privilege of eating in the cafeteria with the wonderful staff serving you. It is imperative that this is said: from all of us, thank you, cafeteria staff!