For years Nerlande wanted to be a professional cook. Despite working in restaurants for years, her lack of education and cooking experience kept her from moving forward with her career. She found the professional training and personal growth she needed at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s 16-week Culinary Training Program. “Coming to the program is the best … [Read more...] about Transforming Lives: Nerlande’s Story
opportunity
14 Students Graduate from Culinary Training Program, Launch New Careers
On Saturday, June 10, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recognized 14 Culinary Training Program students during a graduation ceremony. Food bank staff, family, friends and employers joined in the celebration to recognize each student’s achievements. In addition to learning hands-on food preparation and gaining kitchen training similar to the curriculum of professional … [Read more...] about 14 Students Graduate from Culinary Training Program, Launch New Careers
Transforming Lives: Pascale’s Story
Some kids dream of being astronauts or doctors. Pascale dreamt of becoming a chef. Growing up in Haiti, she envisioned a future where she would fuse Caribbean flavors with different cuisines. She left her homeland to pursue stability, opportunity and culinary dreams. Pascale enrolled in Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida's free, 16-week Culinary Training … [Read more...] about Transforming Lives: Pascale’s Story
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
