WIREGRASS: They fill our plates, stock our shelves, and keep our communities fed. Many are struggling to keep up.
This writer sat in a restaurant recently with friends and witnessed a local male berate a server. She was young, polite, but extremely busy. My heart went out to her, and I tipped well over 20% to show her she was appreciated. That incident has lingered in my mind for days. I’ve worked in the service industry. Working with the public can be challenging, to say the least.
Every day, before most of us have made our first cup of coffee, let the dog out, or even jumped in the shower, someone is already at work. They are the cook firing up the grill before sunrise, the server balancing four plates on one arm after preparing two massive coffee urns and other duties that must be completed before they unlocked the doors, they’re the dishwasher in a steamy kitchen, the cashier greeting a long line with a smile, and the stocker restocking shelves overnight so the milk is cold and the bread is fresh when we arrive.
These are the people who take care of our food needs, and many of them are finding it harder than ever to take care of their own.
With rent, groceries, gas, and childcare all costing more, the math doesn’t add up for many food service and grocery workers. Wages in these jobs are often among the lowest in the economy, and a paycheck that once stretched to the end of the month now runs out well before the month is over. Some work two jobs. Some wonder how they can afford the very food they serve and sell.
Yet they show up. Through long shifts, with aching feet, difficult customers, and holidays spent working while others gather with family, they keep our tables full and our local stores running.
There are small ways you can make a real difference:
Tip generously when you can, and remember that tips are often a big part of a server’s income.
Say thank you. A kind word costs nothing and can change someone’s whole shift.
Be patient. The person in front of you may have to be on their feet for hours yet, possibly had a sick child the night before, and they are doing their best.
Speak up for fair pay and decent working conditions in your community.
The next time someone serves you in a to-go line, brings your meal to the table, or rings up your groceries, take a moment to see that person. They feed us every day. The least we can do is remember that they deserve to be seen and valued.
