Housekeepers make impact

Above: Yolanda Callo cleans a restroom in Nease Hall. Callo has worked in dorms for 26 years and is friends with many PLNU students. Below: Tim Semenchuk works outside Hendricks and describes his job as a ministry to students. Photos by Ali Castro

As the sun begins to rise, Yolanda Callo travels every weekday morning from her residence in San Diego to the home of 350 women. There, she goes to work.

For nearly 26 years, Yolanda Callo has been vacuuming, mopping and scrubbing college dormitories. She is one of four housekeepers in Nease Hall.

“She is amazing, always willing to say hello; she is such a friendly face in the morning,” said Nease RA Noelle Seybert. “I can always hear ‘buenos días’ echoing down the hall.”

Members of other dormitories appreciate their cleaning staff as well.

“Tim is the best,” said Hendricks RA Pieter Baker. “He seems to genuinely care about his job and the students.”

San Diegan Tim Semenchuk has been cleaning Hendricks Hall for five years. He began working at PLNU while recovering from leukemia. Semenchuk explained it as “staying active to improve mental faculty.”

He also described a more spiritual aspect.

“I use my job as my ministry,” said Semenchuk. “It is like having a whole dorm full of college-level sons. It’s neat to be in communication and support each other.”

Baker agreed.

“At the beginning of the year, I asked him what I should communicate to the guys. I kind of act like a mediator to see what we can do to keep the space clean.”

Unfortunately, the dorms don’t always stay so tidy.

“Even normal, responsible use results in clutter and trash and unsanitary conditions,” said Young RD Bill Hunt. “The housekeepers do a lot of work.
Oftentimes, the housekeepers end up cleaning some messes resulting from irresponsible usage.”

Hunt encourages his residents to take their trash to the dumpsters outside and clean their messes in the common areas.

“It’s important that we take responsibility for our own cleaning,” said Nease RD Danielle Brown. “They are not here to clean up after us, to do our dishes or take out our trash. They’re here to do the deep cleaning to ensure a good living environment that allows students to live and learn in community.”

Brown encourages her residents to see the housekeeping staff as part of the community.

“They could work other places for a lot more money; they work here because they are committed to students,” she said.

Brown suggests that residents show appreciation by giving notes and cards or by simply talking with these staff members.

“A lot of their stories are really incredible,” said Brown. “All of Nease’s housekeepers are Spanish-speaking; what a great opportunity to practice the language and get to know some incredible people.”

In Young Hall, the residents take up a collection every Christmas to give the housekeepers a gift. Hunt says that the men usually collect more than $200.

“The housekeepers do a lot of work,” said Hunt. “I’d like to see the students in general develop a more humble attitude towards them.”

An attitude, says Seybert, which is evident in Callo.

Quietly completing her tasks, Callo grins and murmurs, “Buenos días, mija,” to the students for whom she cleans.

“Why do I do it?” asked Callo with a soft smile. “Because I love it; here is my home.”