Recently, a military spouse in the United States experienced firsthand the simple yet wonderful power of writing a handwritten note.
Sarah Fiacco, 40 years old, has found it challenging to adjust to her new job as a “lunch lady” at the school where her children attend. However, everything changed for her after receiving a sweet note from a first-grade student. She now greatly enjoys her work.
“This job is so meaningful,” Fiacco told the Epoch Times. “I look forward to seeing the children every day. Honestly, seeing the children is the most important thing for me.”
She mentioned that the innocent thank-you note made her realize that she needed to be in the cafeteria with the children, fulfilling her role and spreading love.
Originally from Colorado, Fiacco has four children: two daughters aged 16 and 7, and two sons aged 14 and 10. Her husband serves in the U.S. Air Force, so the family moves homes every two to three years.
Currently residing in Alabama, Fiacco had previously owned a bakery and a childcare center in Northern Virginia. Little did she know back then that these two ventures would lay a solid foundation for her current job.
Fiacco wanted to be able to be with her children anytime, as they all attend Prattville Christian Academy in Alabama. She specifically kept an eye out for job opportunities provided by the school. Initially recommended for a full-time kindergarten teacher position, she was not too keen on it because she wanted more time at home to care for her children.
“I still wanted to be a good mom and have more time at home to take care of the kids,” Fiacco said. “Then they asked me about working in the cafeteria.”
Initially, she wasn’t too interested in the cafeteria position either.
“To be honest, I had a lot of negative thoughts at the time,” she said. “I had to wear a hairnet all day and serve food in a greasy environment.”
Eventually, positive encouragement from family and friends, along with the opportunity to be with her children, led her to accept the job.
“I wanted to work in the cafeteria mainly because I wanted to see my children all day,” she said.
“I told my boss, ‘As long as my work area is not limited to the kitchen, preventing me from interacting with the children, I am willing to take on this job.’ Because that’s what I really wanted to do, interact with the children, which I have always been doing.”
Fiacco mentioned that since her first day at work, many students have come to visit her. However, what truly changed her perspective was when she received a heartfelt note handwritten by a first-grade student.
Recalling the moment, Fiacco said that during lunch one day, a girl named Olivia suddenly approached her.
“She walked in and said, ‘I have something for you.’ Then she handed me a small paper note, gave me a hug,” Fiacco recalled.
The note from the girl read: “Thank you! Thank you for providing us with lunch. From Olivia.”
Fiacco mentioned that she pondered what prompted Olivia to write the note because she didn’t feel she had done anything noteworthy for her.
As a caring “lunch lady,” she said, “I couldn’t remember having any significant interaction with her; I just served her food every day, handed it to her with a smile and told her to enjoy her lunch.”
Regardless of the reason behind the child’s heartfelt note, Fiacco was truly inspired. This incident and other similar positive experiences reaffirmed to her that she was in the right place doing the right thing.
“In that moment, I sincerely felt like this is where I should be,” Fiacco said. “Although the job is tough, I am willing to serve the children, and Olivia’s presence and what she did undoubtedly made me feel so good. It’s one of the most precious things in life.”
After receiving the touching note, Fiacco made sure to tell Olivia what it meant for her the next time she saw her.
“I told her how much it meant to me, and she was very happy. You can imagine how happy a six-seven-year-old child would be,” Fiacco said. “She couldn’t stop smiling; she knew she had done something good.”
Subsequently, Fiacco shared the heartwarming moments she experienced as a “lunch lady” on social media, quickly resonating with many netizens.
“This shows that a very simple act of caring for someone can have a significant impact,” she added, emphasizing that putting in the effort to do a job well can bring more goodness and strength, even if it’s just being a lunch lady.
“Every job is important, especially professions that involve direct interaction with children,” she said. “They are the future of society, and I believe it’s crucial to show them they are loved, precious, and valuable.”