By: Mariana Navarrete, Contributing Writer
Students and faculty at Saint Leo University might have seen these women once, or every day. In the Dining Hall, in the Cannon Memorial Library hallways, in the apartments, or just around University Campus. The women working as housekeepers and in the cafeteria are part of the workforce’s backbone at the university and should not go unnoticed.
Margaret, who preferred not to give her last name, or “Meg,” as students and faculty call her, works in the salad section of the Dining Hall. Meg has been working for eight years working at Saint Leo. She leaves her house at 10 a.m. and returns at 9 p.m.
As Meg prepares hearty salads at lunch and dinner, she warmly asks every hungry lion, “How are you? How was your day?” and after tossing the prepared salad in the container, she never misses to say, “Have a wonderful day!” even if in the evening time.
Meg enjoys gardening, working on crafts, and listening to music in her free time. In Dec. 2020, before students left for the winter break, she gifted many of them a handmade angel as a Christmas present.
Meg believes women are important in the workforce because women nurture. It does not have to be a child to nurture, but it can be a project or a business.
“Women thrive on lifting each other,” Meg said.
Veronica Menriquez has been working as a housekeeper for nine years at Saint Leo. She loves to bake, accompany her son to catechism, and being a housewife.
Menriquez said that women are irreplaceable in the workplace since women are more perfectionistic, thoughtful, and attentive.
“If we were not here, nothing would be as clean and organized as it is,” said Menriquez and humbly laughed.
Menriquez highlights that women should never forget that they are essential in the workplace, family, and society.
Isabel Contreras works in housekeeping at Saint Leo. She has been working for the last eight years here. Her day starts at 4 a.m. when she leaves her house, and ends at 2 p.m. when she returns from the university.
On the weekends, Contreras likes to go to her son’s soccer games and support him. She admits she really likes to dance and to enjoy some music in her free time.
“I like to party and have a good time,” Contreras said with a shy giggle.
Contreras believes women are indispensable to society and the family since most dedicate their lives to both. Also, she believes women can achieve anything they set their mind to.
With a noble tone, crossing her arms and firmly raising her chin, Contreras said, “Women should be proud of being women.”
Tabitha Causey started to work permanently at Saint Leo in 2016. What Tabitha likes about working here is to see student and faculty faces every day. By working at the Dining Hall, she cooks dishes for students to make them feel at home.
“I’m like a mom away from home,” Tabitha said. She laid back in her chair, smiling. “I am a friendly type of person. I like to help people.”
Causey loves to go shopping on the weekends and loves cooking when she returns home after work.
“Yes, I do like to cook in Saint Leo and in my home too,” Tabitha said.
Causey claims that women are essential in the workforce.
“One thing about women is that we take charge and we are experts discerning in difficult situations,” said Causey.
Berta Dominguez has been at Saint Leo as a housekeeper for five years. She leaves her house at 3 p.m. and returns at 1 a.m.
Dominguez enjoys family time and loves to cook for her family. When she has time, she likes to cook for herself, too.
Like Contreras, Dominguez claims that women can achieve everything they set out to do.
Minerva Ennis has been in housekeeping at Saint Leo for seven years. She works in the same shift as Dominguez but gets home a bit earlier, at 12 a.m.
During her youth, Ennis traveled across the United States where there were farming seasons of tomato, potato, orange, or where other crops could be grown. .
Ennis, a little timid, said, “Women are irreplaceable in the workforce, and we have important rights just like everyone else.”
Ephonia McCobb started to work in housekeeping, at Saint Leo, 14 years ago. Every day she wakes up at 3:30 a.m. and returns to her home at 2 p.m.
McCob loves working at Saint Leo because she gets to know different students from different parts of Florida, the U.S, and the world.
“It’s a blessing to see new faces; we all get along, we are a family, and students are great, and they make you laugh. I love them all,” McCobb said with a joyful tone.
“Whenever I see the new freshmen, I try to say to them, ‘welcome to the Saint Leo family; I’m never too busy to help you out,” McCobb paused and solemnly continued, “Because you never know how y’all’s night is, we need to check on each other […].”
McCobb likes to dance and loves to listen and sing gospel songs. However, she makes sure to set one day to take care of her body and soul.
“We [women]tend to forget [about]ourselves sometimes because we give so much to others; therefore, one day, at least, we need to practice self-care,” McCobb said.
McCobb mentioned that the women of the Saint Leo workforce, students, faculty, and staff are terrific.
“We have strong women out here at Saint Leo. God made us strong; we handle and endure a lot of stuff.”
These are a few of the various faces that maintain clean and cook Saint Leo’s food. To thank them might be to say a simple “good morning,” “good evening,” know their names, and have a small chat. Let them know they are important, as women and human beings just like everybody else.
