<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=265aOg_196QqEyx00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=265aOg_196QqEyx00" width="700" height="350" ><figcaption>Milford Elementary School’s cafeteria manager, Karen Chupp, is pictured with her granddaughter, Kloey McKinizie, at the cafeteria line. Chupp is dedicated to feeding kids first and foremost, but also to making their cafeteria experience a good one. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.</figcaption></figure>MILFORD — A mother of six, Karen Chupp was more than accustomed to cooking for a lot of kids. When she became Milford School’s cafeteria manager in 2013, she went from six to 300 – and despite that challenge, she said, it is the best job she’s ever had.“It’s the kids, it’s the whole environment,” said Chupp with a smile. “When I interview people, the number one question I always ask them is, ‘Do you like kids?’ If you don’t like kids, it’s not the place for you.”Chupp grew up on Emeline Street, across from the school. She graduated from Wawasee High School in 1981 and held a variety of jobs. After working as a paraprofessional at the school for two years, she applied for the management position. She had worked in food service and helped with Milford Elementary’s summer lunch program, but wasn’t sure if she was up to the task.“I just really prayed about it and the Lord said, ‘Fill out this application,’” Chupp said.Now that Milford has only an elementary school and no middle school, the cafeteria staff serves about 170 kids each day rather than 300, but this is still no small task.When the bell rings for lunch at 11 a.m., “they’re ready, and we need to be ready. They’re hungry, and they’ve been cooped up for four hours; they want to get to talking,” Chupp said.Cafeteria staff’s first priority, of course, is to feed the students and give them the nourishment they need to learn every day.As manager, Chupp is responsible for preparing breakfast and ensuring the cafeteria runs smoothly, starting at 6:30 a.m. She prepares food, serves, checks out students’ trays and washes dishes. Afterward, she makes a record of how many kids were served and how much food is left over. That and the menu, prepared by the district food director, helps her determine how much food she needs to order.On any given day, Chupp might also be called to resolve a fight in the cafeteria or even do the Heimlich maneuver if a student starts choking.Beyond filling their bellies, Chupp emphasizes the importance of being friendly and kind to the students who come down the cafeteria line every day.“If you’re angry, if you’ve got something going on at home, you cannot bring that to school with you,” she said. “We may be the only Jesus these kids see, and I want that to make an impact on these kids. I want them to come back and say, ‘the cafeteria people were my best friends.’ That, to me, is a good cafeteria.”Chupp also highlighted her coworkers.“I couldn’t ask for better help,” she said. She and the other cafeteria staff are currently preparing to move over to Milford Elementary School’s new building in the spring. In the future, Chupp stated, she would like to see more students take advantage of free and reduced lunch.In their free time, Chupp and her husband, Marvin, love going camping and spending time with their eight grandchildren.Chupp attends Nappanee First Brethren Church and loves to read Christian fiction.“My faith is who I am,” she said.</div></body>

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MILFORD — A mother of six, Karen Chupp was more than accustomed to cooking for a lot of kids. When she became Milford School’s cafeteria manager in 2013, she went from six to 300 – and despite that challenge, she said, it is the best job she’s ever had.

Chupp Serves More Than Food

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MILFORD — A mother of six, Karen Chupp was more than accustomed to cooking for a lot of kids. When she became Milford School’s cafeteria manager in 2013, s

Chupp Serves More Than Food

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