Idaho lunch lady fired for giving student free lunch

POCATELLO, Idaho -- A school cafeteria worker in Pocatello, Idaho is fighting to get her job back after she was fired for giving a hungry student a free lunch.

Dalene Bowden says the 12-year-old girl at Irving Middle School told her she didn't have any money and was hungry.

Bowden's supervisor saw what happened and reported her. Bowden was fired for theft, even though she reportedly volunteered to pay for the meal with her own money.

"My heart hurts. I truly loved my job, and I can't say that I wouldn't do it again," Bowden said.

She has hired an attorney, to try and get her job back. An online petition for her has more than 33,000 supporters, and continues to grow.