Food Connects is launching a new series highlighting the amazing essential workers in our community who work hard every day to keep our children fed. Read on to learn more!

Jessica Boucher

Introducing Jessica Boucher! As a school food service professional, Jessica has fed students in our community for the past two years. She worked at Green Street School during the 2018-2019 school year and at Dummerston School this past school year, until schools closed in March when she joined the team that prepares meals for all the schools at the Academy School kitchen. We sat down recently and had a chat about her work and how things have changed for her this spring. Here are some highlights from that conversation:

Sheila Humphreys (SH): How has your work changed due to COVID-19?

Jessica Boucher (JB): It’s very different. I’m working in a different school, and we’re working out of both the kitchen and the gym—cooking and bagging breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every day. I’m working a few more hours than I used to. There is a lot more food going out every day. In Dummerston, I would usually make lunch for about 70 kids. Now we’re feeding over 500 every day! There are a lot of special dietary needs, and I have some new co-workers from other schools.

SH: What has kept you going during these unusual times?

JB: What keeps me going is knowing that there are kids out there that are getting food that they wouldn’t get otherwise. I can’t sit home all day, I need to be busy working, so my work helps keep me sane.

SH: Do you have children at home? 

JB: Yes, I have three children, ages 16, 10, and 11.

SH: How are you managing with child care?

JB: My kids have been home on their own during the day. It’s not going so well, they aren’t doing their work like they should be doing, especially my high schooler. They have figured out how to do chores, though! It’s been a blessing and a curse.

SH: What has been your biggest challenge during this time?

JB: Remote learning. I come home from work and I go right into getting dinner ready and making sure the kids have done at least some school work and their chores. My stepdaughter is there sometimes too, so that’s 4 kids and they know how to make a mess!

SH: How can the community support you and other food service workers during this time?

JB: They can support us by recognizing us for doing a good job. We’ve always kind of been looked down on as “lunch ladies.” Our age range goes from 22 up into the 60s. When you think about your school lunch lady, you think of an old grouchy lady, and that lunch ladies don’t do a lot but we do a lot of hard work and a lot of what we cook is made from scratch. We have a large amount of cooking and packing to do in such a short amount of time. Everything we cook has to be packed and ready to go by 9:30 am each morning, which takes a lot! If I could change what people think about “lunch ladies,” I would want them to know that we really care about the kids and that we are here to help the students. It’s been hard not having the kids around, we’re used to seeing them all the time and we miss them! I’ve gotten to know a lot of kids. I know some of them come from difficult backgrounds and I’m worried about them. As a lunch lady, sometimes I feel like I’m a counselor too. The kids open up to me sometimes and tell me about being bullied by other kids or problems they have at home. I tell kids that if they don’t feel safe, they need to tell someone. When a kid tells me about a problem, I let the office know. I feel like we’re easier to talk to because we’re not teachers, we’re the lunch ladies and we sneak them extra tater tots and stuff and they like that. We’re part of the team of people that helps kids feel safe in the school.

SH: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in this career?

JB: If you’re interested, go for it! It’s not a job that’s going to pay all your bills, so if you are struggling and it’s your only source of income it’s probably not the best job for you. It’s a rewarding job with little pay, much like many other jobs. I myself have been nicer to my kids just seeing how hard it is for some of the kids in the schools where I work. I like the schedule, but all the vacations can be hard because you aren’t paid during that time. You can get unemployment during the vacations, but it’s a lot of hassle to get that set up.

SH: What brings you joy? 

JB: Seeing smiling kids, happy kids, and when the kids tell me they like the food and how good of a job I’m doing. 

SH: What is one thing you are grateful for?

JB: I’m grateful that I have a job, that I wasn’t laid off. I’m grateful for my community for stepping up and helping out and volunteering to help us get the food out to these kids.