In the heart of every school day, long before the first bell rings, a team of women is already at work. They aren’t teachers or administrators, but they play a vital role in Cairo schools: making sure students are nourished, greeted with kindness, and given a sense of care that often lasts far beyond lunchtime.

At Cairo Junior/Senior High School, three women keep the cafeteria running smoothly. Between them, they have nearly 60 years of experience serving the district’s students. Rena Holder, the kitchen manager, has been at it for 30 years. “My day starts at 5:30 in the morning,” she said. “I open up, set up, and get ready for breakfast. Breakfast is served at 7:15, and then I start preparing for lunch.” Lunch service begins mid-morning and continues until early afternoon. By the time she leaves at 2:00 p.m., she has not only cooked and served two meals but also handled the paperwork and ordering that keep the kitchen stocked and ready for the next day.

Her coworkers, Doris Lowe and Paris Blake, each bring their own energy and commitment to the job. Doris, who has been in the kitchen for 29 years, arrives at 9:00 a.m. and preps salads, pizzas, and side items before helping on the line. “I love the kids, love being here, and I love my job,” she said simply. Paris, the newest member of the crew with just under a year of service, comes in at 7:00 a.m. and handles much of the prepping and a la carte items. At just 20 years old, she brings a unique perspective. A graduate of Cairo herself, she says, “I’m just here to give back what they gave to me. I want to make sure the kids get what they need.” Working alongside her cousin and Miss Doris makes it feel like family.

Together, the three women handle a surprisingly large workload. On an average day, they serve about 70 breakfasts and more than 100 lunches. And it’s not just one option on the tray. “We serve a main dish, pizza every day, another alternate, salad, plus sides and a la carte,” Rena explained. “It makes time go by really fast—and that’s what I love.”

But for all of them, it’s not just about the food. It’s about the kids. “You never know what’s going on in a child’s life,” Rena said. “A smile or a good morning may make their day.” She recalled a time when a young student came through the line looking ready to cry. “I called her to the back and we talked. We prayed. She said she felt better.” That, she says, is why she’s stayed so long.

Paris connects with students in her own way. Being closer in age, she says, helps her reach them. “I guess because I’m so goofy, I try to play around with them just to make them smile,” she said. “I was once one of those kids. I know how much it can mean when somebody lightens your day.” Doris keeps it simple: “We laugh and joke with the kids. It matters.”

The cafeteria at Cairo Elementary School has its own rhythm, and there, another familiar face greets the children each day: Joyce Ballentine, Doris’s twin sister. Joyce has worked in Cairo’s cafeterias for 28 years, including more than a decade as a kitchen manager. She moved to Cairo in 1993 and has been serving kids ever since. These days, she works just three hours a day as a kitchen helper, prepping salads, fruit cups, and anything else that’s needed. But her heart remains firmly with the children. “I love working for the kids,” she said. “I just like feeding them and making sure they’re good and full.”

This year, Joyce is preparing to retire on her birthday, October 20, after nearly three decades of service. She laughs about the idea of slowing down, though. “I’m retiring from here, but I’ll probably look for another job,” she said. Travel is on her list, too. Last year, she and Doris went to Virginia for their birthday to visit family, and she dreams of going back—or maybe down to Atlanta.

All four women—Rena, Doris, Paris, and Joyce—share a deep love for Cairo. “I love my place here,” Doris said. Rena described the district with one word: “Love.” Paris, with her fresh perspective, called it “underrated.” And Joyce, who has lived in Cairo for three decades, said she never plans to leave.

These four women are more than kitchen staff. They are part of the heart of the school, feeding bodies and spirits, day after day, year after year.