Child Nutrition Hero: Pam Acosta-Garcia at York Elementary

Oct. 24, 2024

Our final spotlight for Farm to School Month is Pam Acosta-Garcia, cafeteria manager at York Elementary School! She has been with Child Nutrition Services for 8 years and worked in Transportation for over 20 years.

Pam's favorite part of her day is hearing directly from the students when they tell her how much they enjoyed their meals. Her day starts early at 5:30 a.m. as she preps the kitchen and ensures that both breakfast and lunch are ready for the students. She doesn’t just manage behind the scenes; she loves helping at the register and is always willing to step in wherever needed.

She takes great pride in building relationships with the students, getting to know their meal preferences, and making adjustments to ensure they have options they love. For example, she often adds a third entrée based on daily menu choices, knowing her students enjoy parfaits, salads, and yogurt boxes, which she offers daily. Her attention to detail ensures she can adjust menu counts to meet student preferences, which has helped her reduce waste and even achieve zero leftovers on some days.

By actively listening to student feedback and adapting the menu, Pam has more than doubled lunch participation at her school. “Our students are our customers, and without them, we don’t have a program,” she says.

Kate Williams, principal of York Elementary, said "Pam Acosta-Garcia is the best cafeteria manager and employee. She has a heart for helping others, and it goes beyond the walls of the cafeteria. We are so fortunate to have her as a member of the York family for sure!"

Outside of work, Pam enjoys making crafts and beading.