Hillis Elementary ‘lunch lady’ has fed generations
11/6/2024
“I enjoy the kids, I enjoy the people I work with, and I think it’s rewarding to fix a meal and see that, for some of these kids, this is their best meal,” Vickie Obraza said.
If someone you know walked through the hallways at Moore or Hillis Elementary, there’s a good chance Vickie Obraza served them a hot meal. Obraza has a total of 25 years working in food service between her time at the two Des Moines Public Schools locations, and she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“One thing I realized yesterday is that parents and families are so busy, and groceries are so expensive, that being able to help just a little by feeding these children breakfast and lunch is a small thing I can do to help. And that is very rewarding,” Obraza said.
Obraza found herself in this role after being a volunteer at the school when her youngest child was attending Moore Elementary. Another staff member said they needed help in the kitchen, and the rest is history.
“They said, ‘Why don’t you come to work?’ And so, I thought, OK, I could do that. And, maybe when she’s in fifth grade, then I’ll do something different. Well, that was 25 years ago, and my youngest is 31 years old right now,” Obraza said.
In those 25 years of service, Obraza has certainly had her share of moments and students that stick in her mind. One from last school year particularly stood out.
“We have a little boy, and when he came here, he probably wasn’t ready for school. He was jumping on the tables and just had real issues last year. He came back this year, and I said to the girls this morning, it’s a good thing he’s cute because he still does have some issues, but he’s doing much better. He comes in every morning, sees us, and wants to tell us what he wants for lunch,” Obraza said.
“Lunch ladies” and food service workers at elementary schools are typically a sight for sore eyes for kids who have been hard at work the first half of their school day.
“One time, the principal at Moore said this to me: ‘Miss Vicky. Now sometimes those kids mistake kindness for weakness,’ because I probably wasn’t telling them ‘no’ when I should. And I said, ‘That’s why you’re the principal and I’m the lunch lady,’ ” Obraza said with a laugh.
Obraza’s job allows her to serve a nice meal to hungry kids once they enter the lunchroom — an opportunity she cherishes.
“I figure, if we can just give the kids something to look forward to, I don’t have to discipline them. Maybe they’re crying, maybe they need a smile, maybe they miss their mom, especially the little ones, that’s what I’m there for,” Obraza said.
Being in this line of work for so long, Obraza has seen many changes throughout the years. The main difference is the number of options kids have for their lunches. Another difference is that Obraza now orders the food, helps cook, puts in production numbers and more. It’s a significant change from when she started but worth the effort, she said.
“I probably would not have learned so much about computers,” Obraza said, adding that her work schedule allowed her more time with her own kids.
“I never had to miss one after-school activity they had. I was home on spring break. I was home during Christmas break, and I was home during summer break. Then, with my granddaughter, I was able to do the same thing with her. Her mom worked. I was able to keep her in the summertime and spring break,” Obraza said.
Obraza has learned a lot about herself over this time.
“I’m stronger than I thought I was, because it takes muscles to do this job,” Obraza said.
Each generation battles with the one following, often thinking the next generation of kids is out of control and isn’t disciplined the same way they were. Who better to have that perspective on the next generation than Obraza, someone who has seen several come through her lunch line? Does she notice a difference?
“I do, but I think it’ll all work itself out. It always does. There’s good and bad to that because there’s really good things about these kids, too,” Obraza said.
At times, Obraza knew that, when Friday ended, the kids she was serving might not see a cooked meal until they returned on Monday.
“We have had some families through the years that we maybe had to fill things in their backpack for the weekends because they might not get a cooked meal till they came back,” Obraza said. “And you really don’t think that that would be the case in this area, but it is true. That, to me, is rewarding.”
