Fired for Kindness? A School Lunch Scandal in New Hampshire

For nearly five years, Bonnie Kimball worked at the cafeteria of Buchanan School in New Hampshire, treating each student as her own. "They're all like my grandchildren, I've watched them grow up," she recently shared.

Kimball never imagined she could be dismissed over a mere $8 incident. "It all began with a student who couldn't pay for his lunch. What was I supposed to do? Let him leave the cafeteria hungry?" she told the media. "So, he didn't have money that day. So what? If the bill didn't get paid, I would have covered it myself. To me, letting a child go hungry because he didn't bring money is a crime."

When her employer found out, he was furious. "He told me that the child was no longer eligible for free lunches and that he should either bring lunch from home or ask friends to cover for him. When the student approached with his tray, I told him, 'Make sure to tell your mom you need lunch money' and let him eat in peace."

The next day, the student returned with the money and paid for his meal, but it was too late for Kimball. By that time, she had already been fired. "The district manager pulled me aside and terminated my employment. He said it amounted to theft because I let him leave without paying."

After the story gained attention and faced backlash from parents, Kimball's employer offered to reinstate her, admitting his mistake, but she declined. The local community continues to voice anger at the district managers who allowed this incident to occur. "Anyone in public service should act like Bonnie. It's not stealing; it's helping. We all have lessons to learn from her," they say.