THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407160117
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
THROUGH THE YEARS, Vivian E. Wiggins has cooked her way into many a child's heart.
``Those children mean as much to me as my own children,'' said Wiggins, 65, who retired this spring after 24 years of cooking nutritious meals for as many as 400 students each day.
``I prepared their meals as if I were cooking for my own family.''
Wiggins' food service career began in 1970 when she was hired part-time to wash lunch dishes at what is now Florence Bowser Elementary School.
The New Jersey native became a full-time cafeteria worker in 1971, responsible for cooking the entrees, desserts and fresh rolls served to students.
She was transferred to Driver Elementary School in 1990 and remained there until her retirement.
Wiggins and other cafeteria workers rotated specific cooking duties each week.
The 500 mouth-watering rolls served hot and fresh with school lunches each day were among her favorite things to cook.
``Bread was homemade every day,'' Wiggins said. ``We always made extra because a lot of the kids would come back through the lunch lines and buy a second roll.''
To make enough rolls to serve Driver Elementary's students and faculty requires four pounds of shortening, 28 pounds of flour, four cups of powdered milk, five cups of sugar, a cup of salt and three quarts of water, Wiggins said.
Each day, one member of the cafeteria staff made all the bread.
But working in the school cafeteria involves more than cooking food and cleaning dishes.
Wiggins was cook, counselor and teacher, all rolled into one.
``You have to work with the students,'' she said. ``You have to take time to look them in the eye and let them know you love them.''
But her actions often spoke louder than her words.
Every day Wiggins would tuck an extra $5 in her pocket to help children who forgot or lost their lunch money.
After serving food, she roamed the cafeteria, talking to students and urging them try the vegetables, too often dismissed as ``yucky.''
Wiggins, who has a daughter and son of her own, still bakes her own breads, pies and pastries at home.
She baked 100 rolls for her family's July 4 celebration and keeps several homemade cakes ready in the freezer.
Occasionally, she even prepares meals for friends and neighbors near her Nansemond Parkway home.
But she still misses kids.
``I've always loved the students,'' Wiggins said. ``I truly, truly miss them.''
Likewise, Karen Brickey, principal at Driver, expects students will miss Wiggins and her cheerful smile next year.
``She always took time to talk to students,'' Brickey said. ``It's very important for children to see smiling faces and get those pats on the back when they are standing in the cafeteria lines because it makes them have better, more productive school days.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN SHEALLY II
Vivian Wiggins retired from Suffolk Public Schools.
by CNB