Humans of LQHS: Serving on the frontlines in the school community, Virginia Andrade credits her faith for her strength

Humans+of+LQHS%3A+Serving+on+the+frontlines+in+the+school+community%2C+Virginia+Andrade+credits+her+faith+for+her+strength

Photo courtesy of Virginia Andrade; Design by Hannah Nguyen

On a hot summer Tuesday in August, Virginia Andrade is driving down Jefferson St. and Highway 111 on her way home from work. It’s nearly 120 degrees. She spots a young woman wearing torn sweats and a light sweater—and she’s barefoot. 

Heartbroken, Andrade pulls into the parking lot of a nearby gas station. She calls the woman over, and without hesitation, offers the woman her black and gold Nike sneakers. 

“God bless and be careful,” Andrade tells the woman. 

This example is just a glimpse into Andrade’s character. 

Andrade is the nutrition service site operator for the La Quinta High School’s cafeteria. She leads a cafeteria crew of 14 members and has worked at Desert Sands Unified School District for 29 years. 

“I manage the cafeteria and direct my staff and make sure everything is done correctly,” she said. “I try to keep a good atmosphere in the kitchen.”

She has found her passion in serving students and the community around her. Since the onset of the pandemic, Andrade serves over 300 meals to families on a daily basis.

Because food is not as accessible to everyone, Andrade provides a food bank and becomes a source to ensure that every family can be fed. “You walk through life and you see the needs that individuals have,” she said. “You must always help people with love and care.”

Andrade has proposed to put meals on a bus and drive to areas in the Coachella Valley where families are unable to drive to the school for food. “If we can serve over 300 meals at LQHS on a Wednesday,” she said, “can you imagine how many meals can be served if we had a bus?” 

However, due to strict COVID-19 guidelines, the proposal has not been pursued. 

(It was announced in January that Desert Sands Unified served over 3 million meals; 2 million of those meals were served in Indio, Calif.)

“I worry just thinking if children are getting food to eat,” she said. “Being there for everyone is a very big challenge right now.”

Aside from working in the cafeteria, Andrade also volunteers at her church as a eucharist minister. She goes out of her way to serve people and better the community around her. 

“That is my joy: helping people. I am there for my family and anyone in my community,” said Andrade. “I guess that is a motor for me, if anybody needs help, I am there.”

She credits God as the backbone to everything she does. Her faith is a big part of who she is. “He is the only one that can change you,” she said. “He is going to put that compassion and love in you.”

Thinking to the future, Andrade would advise herself to have more patience. “We think that we do have patience,” she said, ”but we do need a lot more patience.”

Andrade is debatably one of the most kind-hearted, empathetic, and giving people in the community. It is because of her work and the person she grew to be that made her enormously compassionate and kind. 

“At one point, people helped me,” she said, “so now I want and need to help others, too.” 

Humans of La Quinta High School is an ongoing series featuring Blackhawk students and staff. Follow us on Instagram @humansoflqhs and Twitter @lqhawkview