WORKING -- Family food group

-- Story by Amy R. Spurgeon; photo by ??????

THEY ARE

The Three Musketeers of OCC’s cafeteria.

ALL FOR ONE

This mother, daughter and daughter-in-law team not only understand the

meaning of quality time, but live it. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days

a week.

Dolores Trejo, 60, Doreen Garcia, 35, and Theresa Trejo, 28, share a

four-bedroom home together in Garden Grove with their respective families

and work together in OCC’s main cafeteria, keeping stomachs full and

mouths happy.

It’s a situation that would challenge most people, but one the Trejos

embrace.

QUEEN OF THE KITCHEN

That’s what members of the 35-person cafeteria crew call Dolores Trejo.

She’s not only the head cook, but a mom and friend to many of her

co-workers.

“They are all my children,” said Dolores, who has been working for Coast

Community College District the past 18 years. “I have adopted all of

them. And I call the students o7 mis hijos.f7 “

Garcia works the grill while sister-in-law Theresa enjoys cashiering, one

of her many duties as “cafeteria floater.”

“Dolores makes everybody feel like they are loved. I am one of her

adopted children,” said cafeteria stock assistant Trevor Griffin, giving

Dolores a wide grin. “That’s our ‘Ma.’ ”

Mouthwatering meals prepared by Dolores and crew include turkey,

stuffing, rotisserie chicken, pot roast, pizzas, Sloppy Joes, vegetarian

plates, Philly cheese steaks, soft tacos, quesadillas, hamburgers,

scrambled eggs, hash browns and breakfast burritos, to name a few.

The cafeteria staff is also responsible for a host of other operations,

such as a full-service deli, bakery and beverage stand.

A SMILE TO HIDE THE PAIN

Dolores’ 15-year struggle with diabetes has never interfered with her

work until recently. Last year, she learned that both of her kidneys were

failing and that she was not a good candidate for a transplant.

She was hospitalized immediately and did not return for six months.

Now, in an effort to help her body flush out toxins, she undergoes

dialysis treatment three hours a day, three times a week.

“This is my routine until the day I die,” she said.

Both daughters are extremely protective of her. Especially now.

“The people who work with her know what she does,” Garcia said. “But the

people who eat don’t know what she’s going through.”

FAMILY MATTERS

Forty family members and friends surprised Dolores with a getaway weekend

recently to Las Vegas to celebrate her 60th birthday. The group stayed at

Circus Circus and enjoyed a relaxing weekend.

Meanwhile, regular cafeteria customers and workers can relax because

Dolores Trejo has no plans of going anywhere.

“I want to work as long as I can,” she said.”This is her world,” Theresa

said.