Face of Caring – January 2023

If you’ve eaten at a restaurant lately—or eaten with a loved one at a school or senior care community—have you noticed your food server? January is a great month to do that because it’s—you guessed it—Be Kind to Food Servers Month!

In honor of this month-long celebration, Cassia is pleased to introduce you to server Tyler Geisen. Tyler has been involved in social services for years. He joined Cassia because, he says, “I wanted to find something that gave me the ability to meet new people and forge relationships, and I like working around food.”

Tyler admits that residents drew him to his job. “If I can make residents smile, or go out of my way to make somebody happy here, that’s what I’m looking for,” he explains. “I’ve been at some high-quality nonprofits, where I felt respected and valued. But I feel more appreciated here than I’ve ever felt at a job before.”

One letter from a resident named Nate shows the impression Tyler has made on those we serve:

“This is a letter of appreciation regarding Tyler, the server in our dining room. Tyler is not only a pleasant man and polite to all residents and guests, but also to co-workers. He is a very helpful and caring man…He greets everyone he serves by name and asks them how they feel.

…Tyler is always accommodating. He suggests alternatives if a resident prefers something other than the menu for the meal. If a resident has a specific health issue, such as a recent appointment with a dentist, he suggests food that may be more appropriate for that occasion. I have also noticed that Tyler is very patient with helping to train new employees. Tyler, in my opinion, is an outstanding Haven Homes employee.

“Although Tyler is fantastic,” Nate adds, “I don’t want to just single him out, as there are many wonderful culinary staff here at Haven Homes“.

–Nate

“Residents have really supported me emotionally and mentally,” says Tyler. “If they can tell you care about your position and really care about people, they reciprocate that kindness.”

Though Tyler is now traveling to Costa Rica and then to Thailand to teach English, we want to thank him for choosing Cassia’s Haven Homes and honor the contributions he made to our community.

If you are interested in joining Cassia’s culinary team, you can find job postings at CassiaLife.org/Jobs.