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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Austintown Fitch High School lunch ladies celebrated the fifth annual School Lunch Hero Day on May 5.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Food service staff at Austitown Fitch High School celebrated the fifth annual School Lunch Hero Day on May 5.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Lunch ladies at Austintown Fitch High School celebrated Cinco de Mayo and School Lunch Hero Day on May 5.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Austintown’s school nutrition employees wore their shirts that said “I’m a lunch lady, what’s your superpower?” on May 5 as they were honored for the fifth annual School Lunch Hero Day.
School Lunch Hero Day gives parents, students, school staff and the communities an opportunity to thank those who serve students daily. The students in the art department created decorated mugs filled with treats for each of the lunch heroes to show their appreciation. There were also cupcakes provided for them to enjoy.
The employees have several guidelines to follow and have to balance many roles to make meals and serving them a success in the schools. There are more than 3,000 breakfasts and lunches served daily by the school lunch heroes.
“I think that’s really nice they’re doing the lunch hero day for us. It’s nice to be appreciated,” said Robin Guzzo who has been working with Austintown food services for 22 years.
Tascin Brooks, DTR Food Service Director, works hard with her staff to create different options for the students to enjoy during their breakfast and lunch periods. Austintown Fitch High School has incorporated a salad bar with fresh fruits and vegetables and a coffee bar for those students who need a little pick-me-up. School cafeterias are required to create options that offer low-fat or fat-free milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. There are also limits on calories, sodium and unhealthy fats.
“Nutrition is a big component to education, no question about it. The changes that have been made over the years being more health-conscious, providing nutrition, the partnerships that Tascin’s made with the coaches in the athletic department to really look at nutrition. It’s wonderful,” said Austintown Superintendent Vince Colaluca.
Every school’s kitchen has an average of 14 employees in addition to the food service office. They all form a special relationship working with each other and love working together as a team. The employees reach out to the children to get their feedback on what they’re providing for meals and also taking suggestions on what the students would like more of.
“It’s crazy, it has it’s challenges, but I enjoy it,” said Lori Vestal, AFHS kitchen manager.
The lunch ladies form special bonds with the students who come through their lines. Many students stay in the same line they started using their freshman year because of the bonds they formed with the workers in that particular line. Many of the workers have gotten to know the students so well that they know what each student wants for lunch. The lunch heroes are able to serve 400 students within a 10-minute period.
“They’re wonderful people to work with and if I could say anything it’s that I was blessed to work with all of these ladies. In all of the kitchens, we have such a phenomenal team,” said Brooks. “They all care.”