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
new career
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
P is for Persistence.
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 … [Read more...] about P is for Persistence.
“This Program is Changing Me.”
Every morning Yolanda looks up at the wall inside the Culinary Training Program classroom to reads, "To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth." This quote by Pearl S. Buck affirms her decision to go back to school. “I was raised by my grandmother and became her caretaker for the last several years,” she explains. “Now I am turning back the clock, going to … [Read more...] about “This Program is Changing Me.”
