Chooo! Chooo! Chooo!

We’ve all heard the train-like bell separating the new third lunch from second lunch. Besides hurting our ears, there’s other impacts from third lunch. Out of all the people affected by this addition, the group possibly the most changed is the one we hear the least about: the lunch workers. The Patriot Press interviewed Michelle Russell, Liberty’s food service assistant on how adding a third lunch has changed the way the food department manages.

Q: What has changed the most since adding a third lunch?

A: Well, three of the people in the kitchen have had to add half an hour to their day. So they are working more and longer. The three lunches also change how we cook food. We used to cook all the food up before the first lunch and then just prepare a little bit more food after the first lunch, to cover for the second lunch. But now we have to cook the food all at once because we don’t have time. We kind of have to juggle everything.

Q: Personally, how has the added lunch changed your job day-to-day?

A: Third lunch has changed my job considerably. This year all students get a free meal and pizza is included in that meal for the first time. I’m the person who plates up the pizza when it comes. So what changed for me personally is I’m getting like twice as much pizza now. I’m selling pizza lunches, the free lunch meals, snacks, and separate pieces of pizza on this line. I’m doing a lot more than I used to.

Q: What are the positives you noticed from adding three lunches?

A: The one thing I noticed is the lunch lines aren’t so long, so the kids don’t have to wait in such a long line before they get their food. They have more time to eat and socialize because they aren’t waiting in such long lines. Then there is the obvious reason when there are fewer students at lunch, it’s safer because of Covid. So there are positives.

Q: What have been the logistical changes with your schedule?

A: Well, it’s been stricter and more work time. Everything has to be on time or else we’ll be late and behind schedule. Our schedules are so exact that within every minute there is something to do, every minute is accounted for to make sure we don’t miss lunch. The third lunch took about a half hour that used to be used for prepping so now the extra time has been used to prep and cook more food. I mean that’s okay, we’re adjusting, it just takes some time.