Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida's Culinary Training Program is more about the people than it is about the food. The program's purpose and mission is to provide adults facing various housing, employment and financial barriers with the skills needed to succeed in a new career in culinary arts. "I don't have to live wondering what's going to happen," says … [Read more...] about Cooking Up a New Career
Gratitude Stories
Sharpening Skills for a Brighter Future: Stacey’s Story
Stacey's journey unfolded in a series of chapters, each with its own unique challenges and revelations. She relocated to Orlando with aspirations of higher education, but the abrupt shift to online classes due to the pandemic posed unexpected difficulties. Her once-stellar GPA plummeted, casting a shadow over her scholarship. Trying to find a next step, Stacey briefly worked … [Read more...] about Sharpening Skills for a Brighter Future: Stacey’s Story
Bruce’s Story
Bruce never considered a career in food service until he cooked alongside a chef at a local rehabilitation center. That experience sparked a passion for cooking within him. That pivotal moment inspired him to enroll in Second Harvest Food Bank’s free Culinary Training Program. Over 16 weeks, Bruce and his classmates learned food safety, knife skills, and how to work in a … [Read more...] about Bruce’s Story
Why I Food Bank
Mark and I both come from simple family backgrounds. Our moms stayed at home and cared for the kids. Our dads worked however many jobs it took to provide. Years ago, that worked for families. In 1977, divorced with three children, I was forced back to work. Without my family, our outcome would have been very different. My kids never lacked necessities, but … [Read more...] about Why I Food Bank
You Fill Carts and Hearts
Parents and caregivers across Central Florida are reeling from steep rent, persistently high prices at the supermarket and uncertainty every time they pull up to the gas pump. Tammy knows those feelings all too well. “Food is expensive,” says Tammy, a single mom with a teenage son. “To get to work to make money to pay rent and buy food, I have to put gas in my car first. … [Read more...] about You Fill Carts and Hearts