Bonnie Kimball/Facebook/GoFundMeA dinner lady has reportedly been fired after she gave a child a lunch he was unable to pay for.
The pupil had promised he would pay for the $8 (£6.29) for the food the following day, and did so. However, Bonnie Kimball, who had worked at Mascoma Valley Regional High School in New Hampshire, USA, for over four years, still lost her job.
Bonnie was reportedly sacked a week later by the district manager of Café Services, the food services business she was employed by.
The audacity of her employer to fire her for feeding a hungry student.
C’mon Twitter, do what you do best.
Spread #BonnieKimball ‘s name and story so she can find a good paying job after being fired for doing the right thing.
You’re a hero in my book, Bonnie.
— E Houser Broome (@EHouserBroomeSC) May 16, 2019
Café Services have allegedly accused Bonnie of theft on account of this incident, which hadn’t really seemed like a big deal to her at the time.
Bonnie had reportedly known the child’s parents since they were children themselves, and was confident the lunch money would be paid.
A letter, obtained by CBS Baltimore, read:
On March 28, a District Manager was on-site and witnessed a student coming through the line with multiple food items that you did not charge him for.
This in strict violation of our Cash Handling Procedures, the Schools Charge Policy and Federal Regulation governing free meals.
Your final has been processed and disbursed to you.
The letter was reportedly dated April 9, and stated that Bonnie had been fired on April 4.
Fuck you @CafeServicesInc. You had a poor old lady fired from her job as a cafeteria worker at a high school for FEEDING AN UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENT!? I hope the CEO’s morals are worth the $560K check, but just know that money WILL run out. Bitch. #NoKidLeftHungry #BonnieKimball
— Damaged Golf Cart (@ChallengeRewind) May 16, 2019
Human resources director for Café Services, Jaime Matheson, has made the following statement:
The student in question did receive a lunch. Students who come up to the lunch line without money receive a lunch of an entrée or sandwich plus side dishes or fresh fruit and milk. An employee of the company would not be let go because they provide this lunch to a student,
We can’t get into specifics because personnel decisions are confidential to honor privacy, however employees receive and sign their acknowledgment to company policies. When these aren’t followed, corrective action is put in place, up to and including termination. We’re all proud of our ability to provide meals to those in need.
As reported by New Hampshire Union Leader, two other people who had worked in the lunchroom with Bonnie had quit in protest following her dismissal.
Thank you Bonnie Kimball! This planet needs more humans like you and less like the ones that fired you.
— Tiffany n Cindy Farnsworth (@CindyFarnswort3) May 16, 2019
Here's the woman, Bonnie Kimball, who Café Services, NH fired bc she GAVE A CHILD A SCHOOL LUNCH. I think she deserves another job. What about you? #schoolLunch pic.twitter.com/dz3PrBpUJ0
— Patricia Farrell (@drpatfarrell) May 17, 2019
Bonnie has since been hailed as a ‘hero’ on social media for helping the young boy, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to show support.
At the time of writing, the page has raised over $2,000 of its $5,000 goal in just 16 hours.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.