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.
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