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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.

P is for Persistence.

February 3, 2022 by Erika Spence Leave a Comment

It took three tries for Paul to complete Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program.

“For me, the saying ‘third time’s a charm’ couldn’t be truer,” said Paul. When he first started the program, he couldn’t focus. The pandemic only made things worse. He didn’t have any income and transportation was a challenge.

Helping his mom with her catering business gave him the passion to try one more time.

“Starting over again was the hardest part, but I know this isn’t just a hobby. This is a future, my future.”

Over 16 weeks, Paul honed his skills in the kitchen with lessons in food safety, knife skills, time management and plating. He also soaked up important life skills on interviewing, teamwork, communication and budgeting.

“The biggest lesson I learned in the Culinary Training Program is to be coachable, to take feedback and look for opportunities to improve, in the kitchen and in life.”

Before graduation, Paul started working at a local country club where he continues to learn every day.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity and encouragement to finish what I started.  I know when I’m in the kitchen I will always be connected to my mom.”

You can pursue a new career in foodservice.

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Read More Stories from the Culinary Training Program

Transforming Lives: Nate’s Story

June 1, 2022

Celebrate Culinary Training Students’ Success

May 11, 2022

Charting a New Path, Thanks to You

March 17, 2022

Filed Under: Culinary Training Program, Hunger News Tagged With: barriers, catering, Culinary Training Program, future, new career

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Each year 1 in 7 Brevard County neighbors faces hu Each year 1 in 7 Brevard County neighbors faces hunger.  You can help @unitedwaybrevard stock the shelves with peanut butter and jelly from June 25 - July 3. Donations will be accepted at 18 Brevard area @publix supermarkets.#pbj #brevardcounty #liveunited #feedhopenow
For summer to be fun and worry-free, kids have to For summer to be fun and worry-free, kids have to be well-fed and healthy. You can help provide freshly prepared, nutritious meals to thousands of kids in our community with your gift today. www.lalasummerhope.com or link in bio📽️ @kamalinallimusic @swampsistas
The @swampsistas are rallying to help provide meal The @swampsistas are rallying to help provide meals for the 1 in 5 Central Florida kids facing hunger this summer. Making a difference in children’s physical and emotional well-being is a huge deal and a commitment to our community's future. After all, today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders.Your gift TODAY will help provide DOUBLE the healthy, nutritious meals for children and their families this summer. You can help at link in bio. #swampsistas #summer #childhoodhunger #feedhopenow
The rising cost of food, housing, and other essent The rising cost of food, housing, and other essentials is making it tougher for hardworking parents to put food on the table this summer. Today, the @swampsistas are looking for 200 hunger fighters to help kids have a worry-free, hunger-free summer.Without your help, more kids will spend the rest of the summer worrying about the empty fridge at home instead of riding bikes and building forts. Your support will help provide double the healthy, nutritious meals for children and their families this summer thanks to a generous match at www.lalasummerhope.com (or see link in bio).📽️ @hannah_harber
I hope that you have summer memories like mine - j I hope that you have summer memories like mine - joyful days of carefree play and fun, says @swampsistas founder @bethmckee. Beth never had to worry that there wasn't enough food in the pantry to keep her field for swimming, running, jumping, and playing all summer long. Unfortunately, too many kids in our community - one in five - do. For summer to be fun and worry-free, kids have to be well-fed and healthy. You can help this week with a gift of hope at www.lalasummerhope.com or at link in bio.
Wishing a very happy Father's Day to the dads who Wishing a very happy Father's Day to the dads who serve as a guiding light (and sometimes a teller of silly jokes) for kids and families across our community. . Too many parents in Central Florida are facing challenges, stress, and anxiety when it comes to the rising cost of food, nutrition, and well-being for their families. Second Harvest is committed to supporting you on #FathersDay and every day!
Volunteers at Mercy Kitchen are helping kids have Volunteers at Mercy Kitchen are helping kids have a worry-free, hunger-free summer - one meal at a time. #summer #childhoodhunger #summerhope #volunteers #orlando
For many older Americans, record-high prices are j For many older Americans, record-high prices are jeopardizing their financial security, according to a recent survey from The Senior Citizens League. 47% of respondents ages 55 and up have visited a food pantry or applied for benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. 🍽️ Find help with food OR how to help families facing hunger at #linkinbio.#seniors #fighthunger #SNAPworks #feedhopenow
The rising costs of food, fuel, and rent are pushi The rising costs of food, fuel, and rent are pushing people “over the tipping point.”🍽️ Find help with food OR how to help families facing hunger at #linkinbio.
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About Us

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Second Harvest secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 550 local nonprofit feeding programs throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of food and financial donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed more than 63 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, daycare centers and Kids Cafes. On average, Second Harvest is distributing enough food to feed 58,000 people a day.

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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