How do you build a career when you don’t have a stable home, transportation, proper training or even a resume? For hurricane refugees, families furloughed during the pandemic, and countless others, Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program (CTP) offers an answer. Designed to serve adults of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds who face barriers to stable … [Read more...] about Culinary Training Program Recognized as “Outstanding Diversity Helping Hand” by Orlando Business Journal
Culinary Training Program
Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program Marks 10 Years, Looks Ahead to Celebrating More Student Success
Any long-term, sustainable solution to hunger must involve work to feed the line of people seeking help and shorten it. Second Harvest's Culinary Training Program has been doing just that for ten years. The Second Harvest Culinary Training Program is a continuing education opportunity offering adults facing barriers to employment the culinary and life skills … [Read more...] about Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program Marks 10 Years, Looks Ahead to Celebrating More Student Success
Chef Israel Santiago
“We’re here for you,” Chef Israel “Izzy” Santiago tells his students at the Second Harvest Culinary Training Program. “We take our students – one by one – through the path,” he said. “We have to understand where you come from to understand where we’re at and where we’ll go.” The 16-week program provides free kitchen and life skills training to help people pursue … [Read more...] about Chef Israel Santiago
Transforming Lives: Elvin’s Story
Elvin loves to be around people. In his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, he worked in hospitality for 20 years. But “I lost my job in 2020, as a lot of people did, because of the pandemic,” Elvin said. He and his family moved to Orlando to offer better support to his son, who has special needs. Despite Elvin’s decades of experience, he could not find a job for almost a … [Read more...] about Transforming Lives: Elvin’s Story
A Hunger for a New Career
After what felt like a year and a half of nothing, Nate knew he needed to do something. He had dreams of going to culinary school but knew he’d have to work for years to afford even one class. That’s when he learned about Second Harvest Food Bank’s no-cost Culinary Training Program. “The moment I heard about the program it felt like hope,” said Nate. He applied the next … [Read more...] about A Hunger for a New Career