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

Thristan Coke

Thristan Coke is the School Nutrition Site Manager for the Bellows Falls Union High School and the Catering Coordinator for Farm to School Cafe. As schools closed last March, the school brought most of the Windam Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU) food production into the High School. We chatted with Thristan last fall about what the experience was like for him.

Thristan Coke (TC): I’ve been working in food service for the school for three years now. I’ve been in overall for almost nine years. I made the switch to working in schools after I got tired of working in restaurants and working nights. I am getting old—I like to sleep at night! 

Harley sold working at Farm to School Cafe as something more like cooking with a purpose, and I like that. I’ve been busier since COVID. As far as the health hazards and being aware of safety at work, that wasn’t a new thing for me, except for masks. But otherwise, I’ve just been busier.

Michelle Pinter-Petrillo (MPP): What has kept you going through COVID-19 times?

TC: I am a firm believer that kids must be fed, no matter what. 

What’s going on is not their fault, and they shouldn't be punished for anything. So I take pride in that. I come here and get stuff done, and that's what I do. I know what my kid is like when he’s hungry; I can’t imagine anybody else’s, so I am happy to feed them.

My son loves virtual school. He would prefer staying home and doing virtual school, so he is having the time of his life. For me not so much, because I have to help with the school work and keep everybody in line at home. I try to find a bit of balance between work and home. I am pretty flexible—I work with what I have.

My biggest challenge is always money. I always wish there were more hours in a day. There is always something more to get done.

MPP: How do you feel supported by the community? 

TC: I can go to Pete’s Stand, or they will bring things to me when I can’t make it and I always feel supported by them. We had the paraeducators working with us over the summer, and it was a big help. I think we tripled our staff in spring and summer, and then when the school year started, they weren’t with us anymore. Now we’re back to our small team.

MPP: What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in school food service? 

TC: My favorite part is serving the kids and interacting with them. I give them a hard time, and they give me a hard time. I think that's the most attractive part, as far as job-wise. 

There are a lot of strict rules about what we can make for kids. I like to get creative with those rules—I believe that food should taste good. Yes, it should be healthy, but if it doesn’t taste good enough and they aren’t going to eat it, then it defeats the purpose. So it's interesting trying to find a balance between healthy and making them want to eat it. I try to work within the lines as much as I can.

MPP: What else brings you joy 

TC: The fact that I am still making the food for students. It was nice over the summer and before to make and send out food to their homes. But with some of them being back in school, I get to see some of them for a bit. I get a sense of drive from making it and giving the food to them. 

I am grateful to be paid and still have a job during COVID times, and it is pretty flexible. I can do things I need to, and that helps me take care of my family.