On Saturday, January 21, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recognized 16 students during a graduation ceremony for its Culinary Training Program. Food bank staff, family, friends and employers celebrated each graduate's dedication and perseverance in completing the free 16-week course, which provides hands-on culinary workforce training and life skills to adults … [Read more...] about Celebrating 16 Culinary Graduates
new career
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
Celebrating Culinary Training Success
Graduation day is one of the best days at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. It marks the culmination of 16 weeks of hard work, dedication, and transformation for Culinary Training Program students. The program provides at-risk adults with the life skills and culinary training needed to launch a sustainable career in the food industry. Commencement speaker Chef … [Read more...] about Celebrating Culinary Training Success
Transforming Lives: Nate’s Story
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 at a fast-food restaurant 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,” recalls … [Read more...] about Transforming Lives: Nate’s Story
Charting a New Path, Thanks to You
Elvin and his wife moved to Orlando to be with their college-age son with special needs. Elvin hoped to transfer from one hotel to another, but then the pandemic wiped out his plan. “Unemployment is not a job. I want a real job,” Elvin explained. Like so many thousands of hospitality workers in Central Florida, Elvin faced a choice: wait out the pandemic or find something … [Read more...] about Charting a New Path, Thanks to You
