Dinner lady sacked for giving free lunch to hungry pupil who couldn't afford to buy one

Dalene Bowden lost her job for giving a student with no money a free lunch  ©idahostatesman.com

A DINNER lady has been sacked from her job for giving a free lunch to a hungry student who had no money.

Dalene Bowden lost her job at Irving Middle School in Idaho after a 12-year-old girl told her she didn't have any lunch money but was hungry.

The caring lunch lady told the girl not to worry and handed her a free meal, which should have cost $1.70.


She asked WSMV: "What do you do? Send them out there, so they can get it taken away and thrown away? No."

But her act of kindness was met with anger from her supervisor, who
saw what happened and reported her, saying she was on permanent leave until he called her.

She told how she then received a letter from the Director of HR, telling her she had been fired.

Dalene received a letter from HR saying she was fired for 'stealing' © Facebook

It read: "The reason for your termination is due to your theft- stealing school district or another's property and inaccurate transactions when ordering, receiving and serving food.

"Consequently, because of the nature of your actions, the District will not be maintaining your employment in any capacity.

"Your official termination date is effective as of today, your final compensation will be sent to you within 10 days."


Dalene has told of her heartbreak at losing her job right before Christmas, saying: "My heart hurts. I truly loved my job, and I can't say I wouldn't do it again."

Dalene worked at Irving Middle School in Idaho  ©Google Street View

Since being fired last week, Dalene's story has received widespread attention in the USA - with an online petition to get her back in her job reaching more than 40,000 signatures.


Dalene said: "I broke the rules, but I offered to pay for the meal and I don’t think I deserved to lose my job over it.

“I know I screwed up, but what are you supposed to do when the kid tells you that they’re hungry and they don’t have any money."

Interim Superintendent Douglas Howell said the District works to make sure children from financially struggling families receive free or reduced hot lunches.


(Culled from www.thesun.co.uk)