Yadira Childs is one of the food service staff members for Elmira High School and has worked at the school since October.
Childs said it has always been her dream to work in a kitchen, serving people and brightening their day. To her, helping, serving and seeing the students at Elmira High School is a blessing and the highlight of her day.
Her inspiration has been her mother. As a child, her mom would look after her sister and her with the utmost care, Childs said. Her mom worked as a seamstress while raising her children. Her mother today has continued to chase and achieve her dreams by returning to higher education, further inspiring Childs.
“It has always been my mom,” Childs said. “She reached her highest goals.”
As a caretaker herself, Childs said she understands the unconditional love and struggles of handling children. She enjoys spending time with orphans. She acknowledges that the sacrifices that her mother made both for her sister and her were not easy.
Childs has a husband and one pet, a female all-black cat whose name is Midnight.
Each spring break, Childs goes to her home country of Mexico on a mission trip to build homes for the less fortunate and to provide other necessities such as blankets. She said she has been taking the trip for many years.
She said she appreciates all of the students who attend EHS and wants to thank them for giving her the opportunity to pursue her dream of working in a kitchen.
“I really enjoy serving people,” she said. “It makes me so happy.”
