Oct. 26 marked the end of the first strike at Harvard University in 33 years. Its cause? Food service workers at one of the nation’s richest schools were struggling to make ends meet under their employer’s pay. After many unsuccessful contract negotiations, the workers finally had enough and went on a strike that lasted almost a month.

Rosa Ines Rivera, who has served as a cook at Harvard for 17 years, explained her situation to The New York Times in more depth, “Harvard is the richest university in the nation, with a $35 billion endowment. But I can’t live on what Harvard pays me. I take home between $430 and $480 a week, and this August, I fell behind on my $1,150 rent and lost my apartment. Now my two kids and I are staying with my mother in public housing, with all four of us sharing a single bedroom. I grew up in the projects and on welfare. I want my 8-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son to climb out of the cycle of poverty. But for most of my time at Harvard it’s been hard.”

Many Harvard students were in agreement with the food service workers and participated in walkouts and sit-ins fighting for higher pay and increased benefits. Several weeks later, Harvard and its dining hall workers agreed on a new five-year contract that would include higher salary, retroactive wage increases, and more affordable healthcare. After receiving the compensation and recognition they deserve, the food service employees returned to work the following day on Oct. 27.

Here at Pleasant Valley, we sometimes forget to appreciate our food service workers and other unsung heroes within our community. We are very lucky to have so many people who are dedicated to providing us meals throughout the school week. Food service director Andrea Mahler described, “Our food service staff throughout the district are a fantastic group of people who work hard each day to make sure we feed the students at PV a healthy and nutritious meal.”

One easy way to show your appreciation is simply by saying “thank you” when you get your food in the lunch line. Mahler expressed, “We always love the positive comments we hear from students.” Never underestimate the power of your words or the value of our school’s incredible staff.