Graphic made in Canva by Fluco Journalism.

The FCHS Cafeteria staff are more than just “lunch ladies.” They are an integral part of enabling the school to function every day. Besides serving breakfast and lunch five days a week, these ladies help create a positive environment, endeavoring to greet FCHS students with kindness.

FCHS Cafeteria Manager Sheri Casero said that what keeps the lunch ladies inspired is the students. Knowing that they are feeding hundreds of students every day and helping them stay focused and energized motivates them to keep working hard. “We are not just feeding bellies. We are feeding everyone’s children,” said Casero.

One common question regarding the lunch ladies is how they handle the problem of food waste. Casero said that if they have leftover food that is safe to keep, it is saved and put in the “grab and go” line in case a student wants a quick option besides the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Casero said that the lunch ladies work hard behind the scenes to ensure that everything goes well and runs smoothly. They prepare meals early, get the serving lines ready, and make sure food is on time. “All our cooking is done with care, which is an act of kindness and love,” said Casero.

The Cafeteria staff serves a surprising amount of meals each day, including between 575 and 800 breakfast meals, and between 775 and 885 lunch meals. Managing this takes careful planning and a lot of energy.

Beyond preparing and serving food, the lunch ladies work to keep the cafeteria clean and organized. Besides their daily cleaning, they do two big, deep cleans before Christmas break to make sure the cafeteria and kitchen are properly cleaned and ready to serve students when they return for a new semester.