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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.

Home for the Holidays

December 7, 2020 by Erika Spence Leave a Comment

A few years ago, Clarimar and her husband escaped from the rising violence, economic instability and food shortages in Venezuela. Once they arrived in Central Florida, they set out to rebuild their lives.

Clarimar always loved to bake but never thought it could be a career until she enrolled in Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program. The 16-week program prepares economically disadvantaged adults for a sustainable career in the food industry. Clarimar and her classmates learned food safety, knife skills and techniques to prepare cuisines from around the world.

A hard worker, Clarimar excelled in the kitchen and overcame a language barrier to earn the Top Student award at graduation. She has gone on to win professional baking competitions, prepare delectable desserts at local hotels and create custom cakes through her own small business.

“I learn something new every day,” says Clarimar. “That’s what I love most about working in pastry.”

After enduring many ups and downs over the last several years, Clarimar is proud to be working full time at an upscale hotel restaurant. She credits the life skills classes at Second Harvest, including those on financial literacy and money management, for helping her weather the storms. Despite a temporary furlough earlier this year, Clarimar and her husband are proud to be new homeowners, putting down roots in a place to call home this holiday season.

“Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me every step of the way.”

Clarimar with her family inside their new home.

Culinary Training Program lessons continue to help students prepare for careers as Central Florida’s economy rebounds after the pandemic. Student schedules alternate between at-home lessons and hands-on, small group labs in the Darden Foundation Community Kitchen. The Program has also added additional courses in customer service and other stackable skills to provide a well-rounded curriculum.

Training students for new, sustainable careers.

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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: career, Culinary Training Program, home, pandemic

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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
Click here for more information.

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