The day began in the usual way. Get up at the crack of dawn, down that cup of coffee, and get to work. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. These were the toughest of times, and there was hard work to be done. Lori knew that during the Covid-19 pandemic, she had to be pivotal and open to being flexible when it came time to feed the students and a community not knowing if food was going to be on the table. "It felt good because we all had a common goal in Food Services. Food service workers united and came together for one cause," Lori reflects. "I got to work alongside other food service workers I usually don’t have the opportunity to work with. Our shift and school site changed frequently, but we were all in the same boat and felt equal."

Lori recalls how challenging the fast-paced work was, especially having served thousands of meals in just a few months during the pandemic. "It was definitely a challenge," Lori says, "until it became a drag as it went on for two years. I tied so many lunch bags, I still have calluses on my thumbs," she laughs. "We made the best of it and we made a great team." While being essential workers, she knows that the support of her union kept her and her coworkers safe during those trying times.

Lori says it’s good to be back at Mesa View where she works the carts selling snacks and vendor lunches. "I missed my Mesa View team. I missed watching the students grow from 6th to 8th grade and their exciting promotions to high school." Lori says her favorite part about her job is definitely the students and conversing with them. She also enjoys the school schedule and having holidays and summer months off.

In her spare time, Lori loves to bodysurf and enjoys gardening. "It feels good to help others," Lori says, as she tries to give back to her community. She volunteers at the HB Senior Center during tax season assisting the elderly with their tax returns. She’s an avid reader and is quite the history buff. She’s currently reading about the World War II era and also Hemingway. She loves the summertime and free concerts in the park, and of course, dancing.

Please join us in recognizing Lori and her membership of five years as she brings it every day.

Written by Dana Moyer, Chapter Communications Assistant