Kilbourne has many special aspects, but one of the most well-known is the snack shack. In the cafeteria, you can buy
various drinks, chips, and sweets using your lunch account or cash. The shack doesn’t run on its own; two women make sure everything runs smoothly, and it’s time for them to get the recognition they deserve for their impact on the community.
Each morning during the second period, the shack is restocked. “I fill up the cooler with all the drinks, and I fill up the snacks. The cooks in the kitchen make fresh cookies every morning, so I also restock the cookies for the day,” explains Cowgill. The shack also has transactions through lunch accounts and physical cash. “I open my computer terminal each morning so I can process the daily transactions,” Cowgill states.
The shack also offers the chance for students to practice healthy financial practices like budgeting and saving. Students can ask how much money they have in their account and decide whether to buy something. They are also able to bring cash to transfer into their account, giving them experience with physical money. Cowgill and Montgomery make sure all money movement is smooth and accounted for.
Montgomery and Cowgill look after the Shack and take on many other roles within the Kilbourne cafeteria. “I run the register for breakfast and lunch. As well as making salads, nut butter and jellies and the hummus,” shared Montgomery. Cowgill helps out the kitchen staff whenever needed by serving lunches, cleaning, dishes, etc. Their contributions to the school offer students familiarity and a connection to the school. “The best thing about working at Kilbourne is the students,” Montgomery remarks. Getting to see a familiar face every day gives students something to look forward to; at the same time, they can use the freedom of getting to buy whatever they want from the Shack. It gives Kilbourne a
place of connection between staff and students that you can’t miss.
So, the next time you are in the cafeteria for lunch or just passing by, stop at the Snack Shack and take some time to meet and appreciate Mara Cowgill and Kim Montgomery for making the Shack possible.