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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.

Where Are the Workers? A Win-Win Solution to Florida’s Labor Shortage

May 17, 2021 by Second Harvest Leave a Comment

Student chefs practice knife skills by peeling and chopping carrots and potatoes.

With nearly 10 million Americans actively looking for work, some employers face a surprising challenge: No one is applying for jobs. In small towns and sprawling metropolises alike, countless restaurants, hotels, construction sites and more are “now hiring” – with little to show for it.

It’s not a problem anyone expected to face in 2021. For the last year and more, our resounding mantra has been “getting back to work” – keeping people in jobs, limiting the damage caused by mass unemployment, and helping businesses return to normal operations. But no matter the reason, it’s clear that Florida needs a supply of trained workers to supplement foodservice and hospitality – two cornerstones of our economy.

It’s a serious problem … but one local nonprofit is committed to helping to find a solution.

While Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has been serving double the usual number of distributed meals every day during the pandemic, the organization has also been working to “shorten the line” of people who need hunger relief through initiatives like its Culinary Training Program. The program, which was launched in 2013, combats financial insecurity — a root cause of hunger — by providing disadvantaged adults with a food service education that they can use to build skilled careers.

Consider Frank, a current student in the program. During the pandemic, he was furloughed from his job as a hotel bellhop — but he took it as an opportunity to grow and stay active, and enrolled in the Culinary Training Program. Frank says he views the program as a job, adding: “It’s easier to get a job when you already have one.”

Another student, Elvin, was in the middle of moving his family from Puerto Rico to Orlando when the pandemic hit. Suddenly furloughed from his position as a banquet manager, he decided it was time to expand his skillset through the Culinary Training Program. Elvin already has more than two decades of experience in front-of-house roles — and he’s confident that mastering back-of-house skills will make him a more adaptable and valuable employee.

Soon, Elvin, Frank, and their classmates will be getting back to work — with a host of new skills to add to their resume. In the last year alone, the Second Harvest program held three 16-week sessions and certified 44 graduates in culinary and professional skills. Since its inception in 2013, 373 students have graduated, and 91% of individuals who were experiencing homelessness upon graduation now have stable housing.

But students aren’t the only ones who benefit. In restaurants and hospitality businesses, skilled and dedicated employees are hard to come by at the moment … and, still recovering from the pandemic, it’s not easy to front the cost of hiring, turnover, in-house training or wage increases. For employers, the Culinary Training Program is a win-win.

“Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has been an instrumental partner for us and provided our Orlando hotels with outstanding employees,” said Rosanna Maietta, president & CEO, AHLA Foundation. “As the hospitality industry recovers from the pandemic, Second Harvest will play a critical role in connecting job seekers with fulfilling, lifelong careers in the industry.” 

More than a year after news of the pandemic broke, it’s clear that healing after COVID-19 isn’t as simple as “getting back to work.” We need long-term solutions, not short-term patches. Through proactive initiatives like the Culinary Training Program, we can create a pipeline of skilled workers who are equipped to build careers … and give businesses a chance to hire talented candidates.

Whether you’re a restaurant owner who hires one of our graduates, an event planner partnering with the program for catering or a donor to Second Harvest Food Bank, you’re helping to build a stronger community – not just today, but for the years to come.

Nancy Brumbaugh is the Vice President of Food Services for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

373 graduates have found a new career in the foodservice industry.

Culinary Training Program students and graduates inspire us daily.

Meet Graduates
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Read More Stories from the Culinary Training Program

Food is more than a meal

August 10, 2022
Culinary Training June 2022

Celebrating Culinary Training Success

July 7, 2022

Rep. Demings Presents Federal Funding to Second Harvest Food Bank

June 27, 2022

Filed Under: Coronavirus, Culinary Training Program, Hunger News Tagged With: career, Culinary Training Program, hunger

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Happy first day of school! Through a variety of Happy first day of school! Through a variety of programs, Second Harvest Food Bank is helping close the hunger gap for local students. Kid’s Cafés, Kids Packs, Summer Food Service, and the School Partnerships programs meet kids where they are to provide access to healthy, nutritious food. #BackToSchool #ThisIsFood
TRUE or FALSE: In Central Florida, 1 in 7 people e TRUE or FALSE: In Central Florida, 1 in 7 people experience hunger.By learning more about what food means to families, children, seniors, and neighbors facing hunger, you will have a better and richer understanding of how vitally important your support continues to be in changing lives.Test your knowledge of the issue of hunger in Central Florida with the This Is Food link in our bio. #ThisIsFood
With the nutritious food they need, our neighbors With the nutritious food they need, our neighbors can focus on training for a better job, finding stable housing, and raising healthy kids. #MissionMonday #ThisIsFood
The sticker shock at the grocery store isn’t goi The sticker shock at the grocery store isn’t going away for Central Florida families. #Inflation is forcing more families are taking advantage of food bank services to help make ends meet.Learn how Second Harvest helps families with food for today and hope for tomorrow. Look for #ThisIsFood in #LinkInBio. #FeedHopeNow
No family in Florida should face hunger. Too many No family in Florida should face hunger. Too many do.Bigger grocery bills mean kitchen pantries empty even faster. Nutrition programs like SNAP can lend a helping hand. Find out more at link in bio.
Because of your support, Second Harvest Food Bank Because of your support, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida distributes enough food for 250,000 meals across six counties to tens of thousands of our neighbors every single day. . But feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. Second Harvest Food Bank is not only feeding the line of people who need help today but attacking hunger in other important ways. Learn more at #ThisIsFood link in bio.
Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the be Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. With your help, Second Harvest Food Bank is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health — and families facing hunger. #ThisIsFood
Food is more than a meal. Together, we are feeding Food is more than a meal. Together, we are feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health, and families facing hunger. #ThisIsFood
Christmas in July is almost over! Grab your swee Christmas in July is almost over! Grab your sweet local Florida honey with this Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale. Use code BUY2 at checkout. Visit aspoonfullofhope.org or click the link in the bio.
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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to more than 500 local nonprofit feeding partners throughout Central Florida. Through the help of food and financial donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributes enough food for a quarter of a million meals every day to the six-county service area. Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. By investing in job training programs, advocating for access to nutritious foods, and inspiring our community to get involved, SHFBCF is leaning into the root causes of hunger and transforming lives. With the support of our Central Florida community, Second Harvest Food Bank is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health — and families facing hunger. To learn more about SHFBCF, visit FeedHopeNow.org.

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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