If you work in Sedro-Woolley and you aren’t sure what to do for lunch, you are in luck. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Kalob hits the streets of downtown Sedro-Woolley taking lunch orders from shopkeepers and office workers. He arrives at A Cup Above Deli and Espresso, and starts his shift by putting on an apron, gathering up menus, checking to see that he has pens, and reading the lunch special of the day back to his supervisor. He checks his map for businesses to go to, and then he’s off to make his rounds.
Kalob has become well known in Sedro-Woolley’s close knit downtown. In the two months Kalob has been working, he has made new friends and brightened people’s day with his cheerfulness. As he enters Holland Drug, the owner announces over the intercom, “it’s Kalob time.” He makes sure to ask what time the person needs their order by, and that they have checked off all the options for their sandwich or specialty coffee drink. Kalob loves working with people and is not afraid to make new acquaintances.
Kalob’s job is a new position that requires him to be flexible and resourceful. There are days when he receives no interest in orders for the first half hour, and then is called back to the deli to deliver called-in orders. In order not to waste his trip back to the deli at the south end of Metcalf Street, he stops into a couple of his regular customer’s businesses and receives more orders. The 2 hour shift kicks into high gear as Kalob and Tina coordinate how he will juggle getting orders out to the various customers at the times they have requested. Kalob is growing to be a more professional salesperson by double checking orders with customers and his supervisor to make sure it is right. There have been a few mistakes along the way, but he has grown from these errors to become more conscientious. On a daily basis, he is challenged to gauge his time, keep his menus and orders organized and separated, navigate his map (which changes each day so that he reaches more customers), and stay positive in the midst of the rejection that comes with sales work. Kalob has never had a job that requires this level of customer service skills. The job also requires him to handle money and written communication in ways that are beyond his past vocational experience. Kalob takes his work seriously and finds joy in the customer relationships he has formed. Hopefully he will become a fixture of downtown Sedro-Woolley for years to come!
By: Paul O’Donnell
