RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Daniels Elementary has a lot to celebrate, as one of its cooks was honored as a Tyson K12 Hunger Hero.
Joyce Carpenter says she loves her job and doesn’t do it for the recognition. It’s about keeping the students healthy and happy.
According to Tyson Foodservice, its K12 ‘Hunger Heroes’ initiative recognizes those who go above and beyond to improve students’ school cafeteria experience by serving nutritious and delicious meals. Carpenter was shocked by the unexpected honor.
“It’s not something I ever even think about. We just come in and do what we think the kids would like to have for breakfast,” said the cafeteria manager. “Want to make sure they have nutritious food available to them, and we make it taste as good as we can make it taste for them and look as good as we can make it look.”
Carpenter has been with Raleigh County Schools since Kayslee Pennington was in Pre-K.
“It’s amazing to see Joyce get this (honor) because every morning I walk by her and she is standing there asking people if they want a food bag,” the fifth-grader said. “She’ll give us smoothies, and it’s just amazing how much effort she puts into it.”
Teresa Baker calls Carpenter a great leader, the epitome of Tyson’s ‘Hunger Hero,” and the students are lucky to have her. With 87 cooks and 26 cafeteria managers in the county…
“I’ve always told them in training we’ve got to think outside the box because we have such stringent guidelines from the USDA in the state, and she goes 110% on everything that I put out there,” said the director of child nutrition. “Nothing is a hard challenge to Joyce. She just runs with it and never looks back.”
Passionate about cooking, the cafeteria manager ensures the students are well fed…
“I like to cook. I like to bake. I’m always bringing in something for us to eat. I love my job. It’s the reason I get up. I love it.”