Statement of Ms. Leslie Williams, New Jersey food-service worker, at the USDA listening session in Baltimore, Maryland. August 8, 2008.

Good Morning.

My name is Leslie Williams, and I've been working in the school cafeteria at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School in Orange, New Jersey for nearly twenty years. I am also a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ.

Over the years, I've developed a pretty good idea of what works - and what doesn't. I came from Northern New Jersey to tell you WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS.

I love my work - I treat the kids at my school just like my own kids. But it's getting harder and harder to prepare nutritious meals on the low budget we're working with.

And we must not forget - many of the children we're feeding do not have the option of packing their lunches, and the meals they eat at school are often the most well-balanced and filling meals they have all day.

Already, children are complaining that they don't have enough food - and when I look down at the three fish sticks we're serving them, I know they're right.

Knowing some of the children may not get what they need over the weekend the Principal at my school has even asked us to provide extra portions to some students on Mondays and Fridays.

Working directly with the kids, we have a better idea of what they need - but it's not always within our means to provide it.

We rarely have fresh fruit and vegetables - only the processed stuff from the can, and I often bring in seasonings from home so the food will taste better.

On occasion, I've gone into my own pocket when a see a child who's hungry. As I see it, part of my job is to make sure the kids are well-fed. And as a mother, I simply can't bear to see any of them go hungry.

We have a huge responsibility in working with school children on a daily basis, and after 20 years on the job, I have a lot of experiential training that helps me do my job well. The truth is - not everyone does.

With the wages as low as they are and limited benefits, there's regular turnover in the cafeteria, and the training and orientation programs we used to have don't exist anymore. We need workers who are better trained to understand how to best do their work - how to prepare nutritious food, identify childhood diseases and prevent food safety problems. And, to be honest, we need to pay people enough to keep them on the job.

As you work to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Programs, I hope you'll take my recommendations into account. Please keep mind my words come not only from my 20 years of professional service - but also from the experiences and concerns of millions of SEIU and UNITE-Here families who are directly affected by your decision.

Thank you.