HAMPTON — Four graduates, their families and the 29th incoming class gathered together at the Peninsula Foodbank Tuesday.
The foodbank offers a free culinary course for economically disadvantaged adults to learn culinary skills.
The training is designed to assist them in gaining full-time employment either through local restaurants and eateries or to establish their own catering businesses.
In addition to the training, the students are given the opportunity to receive the ServSafe Manager Certification and the skills they need to become successfully employed adults.
Karen Joyner, the foodbank’s CEO, said the summer version of the food service program is a challenge and she urged the graduates to feel proud of their accomplishments.
In exchange for getting the class for free, the students must volunteer their time to prepare the meals for the Kids Cafe during the school year and the Summer Feeding Program during the summer months.
Without access to these meals, kids would go hungry during the summer months and after school, Joyner said.
In fiscal year 2017, some 96,904 hot meals were served at Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding Program sites.
That makes 107,000 meals prepared by culinary training students, according to the foodbank.
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The classes are conducted Monday – Friday with hands-on training in culinary skills and kitchen management in the morning and food service knowledge and job readiness classes in the afternoon.
The graduates are prepared to take on their new jobs, Joyner said.
There have been more than 100 graduates of this program since 2011 and 90 percent of the students obtain employment within 30 days of employment, said Marta Johnson, Nutrition Advisory Council chairwoman.
After the graduates received their diplomas their families and friends were invited to share a meal the graduates cooked.
To learn more about the Culinary Training Program click here.
