Ordering sandwiches at Lick-Wilmerding has always been a bit of a bumpy road. Whether it was students struggling to meet the order deadline, the long lines at lunch or the Caf or staff being unable to read the pin number, sandwich ordering has had issues.
What if there was an easier way to order?
That was the question asked by a determined student, Emily Sturman ’21. Sturman’s answer was a mobile app called Simple Subs.
Sturman came up with the idea during her sophomore year to switch from the past system of paper slips to an app that would deliver sandwich orders directly to the Caf staff. Sturman approached Kathleen Fazio, the Director of Food Services. At first, the Caf staff was reluctant to give a go-ahead on the app, but Sturman explained what the benefits could be:
“Not only would it make it easier for people ordering the sandwiches, but also the automatic label would make it easier to read,” Sturman said.
She explained that each order would be neatly printed and ready to stick onto the sandwich wrapper. This is not the only benefit—now students will be able to order ahead of time, eliminating the lunchtime rush.
Using the app, Lick students sign into their account by inputting their email and grade level and can place a sandwich order. The order is printed onto slips for Caf staff to make the sandwiches. All the regular choices are now available through the app.
For example, on a Sunday night, a student will open up their phone and find the Simple Subs app. There, upon entering their name and email, a list of sandwich components will pop up. The student or LWHS staff member then might choose roast beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and swiss cheese (and all of the fixings) on a Dutch crunch roll. The next day, their delicious freshly made sandwich will be ready for them to pick up at lunchtime. There is an option to add a bag of Kettle Sea Salt Chips to every order.
While there is new efficiency for students, the Caf staff is facing a new problem presented by the pandemic. As students’ attendance varies, sometimes a student will order a sandwich the day before but will not be there the next day to pick it up.
Another very important aspect of the app is security, as each students’ pin number will be linked to the app. Simple Subs uses Google Firebase, a platform used for creating mobile and web applications. Students will enter their email when signing up, and their information will be stored in the app.
The new app has been up and running during our return to on-campus learning. One of the first users, Eliana Goldfarb ’22 , said that the app was “very convenient, and made ordering much simpler.”
