Anyone who has stepped foot into Center Court during the beginning of brunch or lunch is well aware of the chaotic maelstroms of students vying to get a meal at each food service window. Ever since the start of California’s free lunch policy at the beginning of this year, Aragon’s kitchens have been busier than ever.
The free lunch policy initiated in February has been announced and promoted since this school year started, and for good reason. According to an article by the Associated Press, providing free meals to all students helps reduce the stigma toward students who need free meals because of their financial situation, which then results in fewer students feeling ashamed around their peers about getting free meals and more students walking up to service windows for food.
“We are … preparing three times the food we made [before the pandemic],” said Nutrition Services Assistant Lead Claudia Godinez Carmona. “We know that many of the students are eating [now] and before this I think many stayed without eating.”
A significant increase in demand for food results in more work and preparation for the kitchen staff. The staff start working at around 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. and have to prepare for lunch and brunch a few hours before the rush to make sure they have enough food.
“It’s a tight deadline,” said Aragon Nutrition Services Lead Emilia Rivera. “I cannot say [that] I’m not ready [when] … brunch is here and … students are in line. I can’t do that. No matter what, I have to be ready.”
The free lunch policy has not only resulted in more frenzied rush hours, but has also created more day to day stress for the kitchen staff.
“It’s pretty hectic because there’s not enough time in between,” Rivera said. “You really have to … rush, rush, rush.”
“My favorite part of working at Aragon is … making sure [students] are happy with their meal”
Another member of the Aragon kitchen staff detailed the challenges that the free lunch policy has presented.
“Work is very busy … because people are choosing to get the school lunch more than ever,” said Nutrition Services Assistant Glenda La.
The student workers who work in the kitchens are very busy too, even without their kitchen jobs.
“Even if they sign up for work, they say they’re busy with class,” Rivera said.
Even with the students’ busy schedules, the staff do say they love working with student workers and that their experiences are positive.
“They have the mindset of wanting to help us out [and] they everything with joy and overall it’s so helpful for us,” Godinez Carmona said.
Students are often excited to take a break from classes and to spend lunch with their friends, thus rushing to the front of the window to get food as fast as they can.
However, despite the tumultuous lines, students are calm and polite when it’s their turn to get food.
“Each student who has gotten lunch with me is very respectful,” Godinez Carmona said.
The demand for food is higher than ever, but despite the challenges that come with being part of the nutrition services staff at Aragon, the staff members still express their love for their job and how much they care for the students.
“My favorite part of working at Aragon is providing food for all the students and making sure they are happy with their meal,” Godinez Carmona said.
Serving huge crowds of students several times every single day, the kitchen staff are an integral part of the Aragon community.
