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http://usuncut.com/class-war/lunch-lady-darlene-bowden-fired-for-feeding-hungry-child/
Lunch Lady Who Gave Free Meal to Hungry Child Fired for ‘Theft’ (VIDEO)Nathan Wellman | December 23, 2015
“My heart hurts. I truly loved my job, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.”
Last week, a 12 year old girl attending Irving Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho, approached food service worker Dalene Bowden and told her that she “didn’t have any money” to afford a basic hot lunch.
Responding the way most people would to a hungry child, Bowden gave her a meal. “Here,” she said, “we’ll take care of it in a minute.”
Unfortunately, Bowden’s supervisor witnessed this and immediately reported her. She was fired quickly after.
CLASS WARLunch Lady Who Gave Free Meal to Hungry Child Fired for ‘Theft’ (VIDEO)Nathan Wellman | December 23, 2015
“My heart hurts. I truly loved my job, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.”
Last week, a 12 year old girl attending Irving Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho, approached food service worker Dalene Bowden and told her that she “didn’t have any money” to afford a basic hot lunch.
Responding the way most people would to a hungry child, Bowden gave her a meal. “Here,” she said, “we’ll take care of it in a minute.”
Unfortunately, Bowden’s supervisor witnessed this and immediately reported her. She was fired quickly after.
“He said I was on permanent leave until he called me,” Bowden said. “I should not call them. He will call me. And they never called me. I got the letter.” “This is just breaking my heart. And they couldn’t even bother to put my check in with the letter,” she continued.
The letter was signed by District 25 Director of Human Resources Susan Petit. (Email: pettitsu@sd25.us) Petit specified that Bowden was terminated for “theft.”
Darlene offered to pay for the $1.70 meal, but the district rejected this gesture and fired her anyway. “I broke the rules, but I offered to pay for the meal and I don’t think I deserved to lose my job over it,” she said.
Before this incident, Bowden has never been written up in her three years working for the District. Community Relations Spokeswoman Shelley Allen said that parents are notified if a child is over an $11 credit limit, and the child is provided with a lunch. However, she stated that workers are instructed to “take their tray away and dump it.”
“I know I screwed up,” she said. “But what are you supposed to do when the kid tells you that they’re hungry and they don’t have any money?”
“My heart hurts,” said Bowden, fighting tears. “I truly loved my job, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.” The School Board’s email and phone numbers can be found here. An online petition has been started on Darlene Bowden’s behalf and, as of this writing, has exceeded 42,000 signatures.
Lunch Lady Who Gave Free Meal to Hungry Child Fired for ‘Theft’ (VIDEO)Nathan Wellman | December 23, 2015
“My heart hurts. I truly loved my job, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.”
Last week, a 12 year old girl attending Irving Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho, approached food service worker Dalene Bowden and told her that she “didn’t have any money” to afford a basic hot lunch.
Responding the way most people would to a hungry child, Bowden gave her a meal. “Here,” she said, “we’ll take care of it in a minute.”
Unfortunately, Bowden’s supervisor witnessed this and immediately reported her. She was fired quickly after.
CLASS WARLunch Lady Who Gave Free Meal to Hungry Child Fired for ‘Theft’ (VIDEO)Nathan Wellman | December 23, 2015
“My heart hurts. I truly loved my job, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.”
Last week, a 12 year old girl attending Irving Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho, approached food service worker Dalene Bowden and told her that she “didn’t have any money” to afford a basic hot lunch.
Responding the way most people would to a hungry child, Bowden gave her a meal. “Here,” she said, “we’ll take care of it in a minute.”
Unfortunately, Bowden’s supervisor witnessed this and immediately reported her. She was fired quickly after.
“He said I was on permanent leave until he called me,” Bowden said. “I should not call them. He will call me. And they never called me. I got the letter.” “This is just breaking my heart. And they couldn’t even bother to put my check in with the letter,” she continued.
The letter was signed by District 25 Director of Human Resources Susan Petit. (Email: pettitsu@sd25.us) Petit specified that Bowden was terminated for “theft.”
Darlene offered to pay for the $1.70 meal, but the district rejected this gesture and fired her anyway. “I broke the rules, but I offered to pay for the meal and I don’t think I deserved to lose my job over it,” she said.
Before this incident, Bowden has never been written up in her three years working for the District. Community Relations Spokeswoman Shelley Allen said that parents are notified if a child is over an $11 credit limit, and the child is provided with a lunch. However, she stated that workers are instructed to “take their tray away and dump it.”
“I know I screwed up,” she said. “But what are you supposed to do when the kid tells you that they’re hungry and they don’t have any money?”
“My heart hurts,” said Bowden, fighting tears. “I truly loved my job, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.” The School Board’s email and phone numbers can be found here. An online petition has been started on Darlene Bowden’s behalf and, as of this writing, has exceeded 42,000 signatures.
