The festively dressed Rene Bingham, part of the ‘Lunch Lady Squad’ at Packsaddle Elementary School in Kingsland. Staff photo by Elizabeth De Los Santos
Students at Packsaddle Elementary School in Kingsland know what’s for lunch when they see what cafeteria manager Rene Bingham is wearing, especially on her ears.
“I’ve got a closet full of costumes, decorations, and hats,” she said. “The kids love it. They check my earrings every day to see what will be on the menu.”
Bingham is known for adding a creative flair to the cafeteria, from holiday-themed decorations to food-related accessories. She wears hamburger earrings on burger day, taco earrings on Tuesdays, and cow-themed earrings for steak fingers.
Bingham was voted Favorite School Food Service Worker for the Kingsland/Llano area by The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune listeners in the 2025 Locals Love Us contest.
She has worked at Packsaddle Elementary for eight years, five of those as cafeteria manager, overseeing menus, food orders, and meal prep for hundreds of students. Beyond the logistics, she fosters a kitchen culture of teamwork and fun so all students feel welcome.
“I have an amazing team,” Bingham said. “We all work together. It’s never just one person; it’s our entire group that makes things run smoothly.”
Each day, Bingham and her staff serve about 450 breakfasts and 550 lunches. They use a system called batch cooking, which allows them to prepare food in stages, preventing waste while ensuring every meal is fresh.
“I make sure everything is prepped the day before,” she said. “That way, if I forget to order something, I have time to fix it. We always try to stay ahead.”
For Bingham, the best part of the job is the students. She has built connections that extend beyond the lunch line.
“When I go to the store, kids recognize me and say, ‘That’s Miss Rene! That’s the lunch lady!’” she said. “Even when there’s a language barrier, they still feel comfortable coming up to me, and that means a lot.”
Bingham emphasized that her Locals Love Us win is an honor that belongs to her entire team.
“When I found out I won, I was humbled,” she said. “But this award is for all of us. It’s never just me. It’s my team that makes everything possible.”
