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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Blogging at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Celebrating Culinary Success

December 8, 2021 by Erika Spence Leave a Comment

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida held a virtual ceremony on Monday, December 6, to celebrate graduates of its Culinary Training Program. The live, online ceremony recognized 21 students who successfully completed the 16-week course.

“We couldn’t be more proud of this graduating class,” said Dave Krepcho, president and CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. “Each graduate has shown incredible dedication to reach this milestone, and we can’t wait to see what they do next. We’re grateful to local supporters and employers, for making days like this possible.”

Graduates heard encouraging words from Sofi, who completed the program three years ago. When she enrolled in the program, Sofi was working a part-time job that did not provide enough hours or steady income. Her family lived in a cramped apartment and they did not have a car. After graduation, she went to work at Universal Studios Orlando where she applied her culinary skills and life skills training, including goal setting and financial literacy. Now she has her own car and her family lives in a home that they own.

Renowned Chef Hari Pulapaka delivered the keynote speech to inspire graduates in their new career pursuits. Among his advice, Chef Hari encouraged graduates to have a small fear of failure but not to be afraid of success. You can watch the full ceremony, including remarks from Sofi, Hari, and Dave below. The opening slideshow includes photos of students throughout the course of the program along with congratulatory messages submitted by donors, supporters and A Spoon Full of Hope customers.

Recording from Culinary Training Program graduation for Class 42 &43 on December 6, 2021.

Since launching in 2013, the Culinary Training Program has supported 406 graduates who have gone on to careers in the food service and hospitality industries – at no cost of their own. As the Central Florida economy continues to rebuild, this program trains students who are ready to step into open positions.

The Culinary Training Program is transforming lives.

Meet Our Graduates
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Read More Stories from the Culinary Training Program

Food is more than a meal

August 10, 2022
Culinary Training June 2022

Celebrating Culinary Training Success

July 7, 2022

Rep. Demings Presents Federal Funding to Second Harvest Food Bank

June 27, 2022

Filed Under: Culinary Training Program, Hunger News Tagged With: congratulations, Culinary Training Program, graduation, new career

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Happy first day of school! Through a variety of Happy first day of school! Through a variety of programs, Second Harvest Food Bank is helping close the hunger gap for local students. Kid’s Cafés, Kids Packs, Summer Food Service, and the School Partnerships programs meet kids where they are to provide access to healthy, nutritious food. #BackToSchool #ThisIsFood
TRUE or FALSE: In Central Florida, 1 in 7 people e TRUE or FALSE: In Central Florida, 1 in 7 people experience hunger.By learning more about what food means to families, children, seniors, and neighbors facing hunger, you will have a better and richer understanding of how vitally important your support continues to be in changing lives.Test your knowledge of the issue of hunger in Central Florida with the This Is Food link in our bio. #ThisIsFood
With the nutritious food they need, our neighbors With the nutritious food they need, our neighbors can focus on training for a better job, finding stable housing, and raising healthy kids. #MissionMonday #ThisIsFood
The sticker shock at the grocery store isn’t goi The sticker shock at the grocery store isn’t going away for Central Florida families. #Inflation is forcing more families are taking advantage of food bank services to help make ends meet.Learn how Second Harvest helps families with food for today and hope for tomorrow. Look for #ThisIsFood in #LinkInBio. #FeedHopeNow
No family in Florida should face hunger. Too many No family in Florida should face hunger. Too many do.Bigger grocery bills mean kitchen pantries empty even faster. Nutrition programs like SNAP can lend a helping hand. Find out more at link in bio.
Because of your support, Second Harvest Food Bank Because of your support, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida distributes enough food for 250,000 meals across six counties to tens of thousands of our neighbors every single day. . But feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. Second Harvest Food Bank is not only feeding the line of people who need help today but attacking hunger in other important ways. Learn more at #ThisIsFood link in bio.
Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the be Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. With your help, Second Harvest Food Bank is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health — and families facing hunger. #ThisIsFood
Food is more than a meal. Together, we are feeding Food is more than a meal. Together, we are feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health, and families facing hunger. #ThisIsFood
Christmas in July is almost over! Grab your swee Christmas in July is almost over! Grab your sweet local Florida honey with this Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale. Use code BUY2 at checkout. Visit aspoonfullofhope.org or click the link in the bio.
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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to more than 500 local nonprofit feeding partners throughout Central Florida. Through the help of food and financial donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributes enough food for a quarter of a million meals every day to the six-county service area. Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. By investing in job training programs, advocating for access to nutritious foods, and inspiring our community to get involved, SHFBCF is leaning into the root causes of hunger and transforming lives. With the support of our Central Florida community, Second Harvest Food Bank is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health — and families facing hunger. To learn more about SHFBCF, visit FeedHopeNow.org.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS. Tax ID Number: 59-2142315 Email: info@feedhopenow.org

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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida 32805
(p) 407-295-1066
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