Stories for The Culinary School

Pictured: Lupo Italian Kitchen Sous Chef Sam “Rusty” Russell and Ny Cunningham We recently caught up with Milford culinary alumna, Ny Cunningham, to see what she’s been up to since graduating! Tell us a little about yourself: I have five children, ages 3 to 26. I spent 20 years in the corporate world before I…

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Tears and cheers filled the room as family, friends, community dignitaries, Food Bank staff, supporters and others joined to celebrate the accomplishments of the combined Newark and Milford culinary classes! Eight students overcame both personal and pandemic challenges to successfully complete the 14-week training program. The graduates include: Jacob Armstrong Allen Burke Vernon Dixon Cynthia…

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Jacob Armstrong currently works in a kitchen, but wanted to expand his knowledge and skillset to become an asset to his employer. The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware was the perfect place to further develop his skills. “I felt I could help out my chef a little bit more if I were…

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Like millions of Americans, Jackie Toner was laid off from her job when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. She was employed at a local casino as a craps and black jack dealer. To help make ends meet, she started using the Food Bank of Delaware’s monthly drive-thru mobile pantries. “I became familiar with…

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Three years ago, Cynthia Neal became ill and was no longer able to work. “If I had never gotten ill, I’d still be working,” she points out. After learning online about The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware, she decided it was time to pursue a new opportunity. She entered the program with…

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Althea Wilkinson always enjoyed cooking, but wanted to learn more about the process to become more “grounded” in the kitchen. Prior to enrolling in The Culinary School, she was an Amazon Flex and DoorDash driver and was doing catering and decorating on the side. Initially, Althea wanted to go to school in New York. When…

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The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware is a family affair for Sarah Salgado. Her uncle, Felix Burgos, graduated from the program in 2018 and is excelling as a golf club kitchen manager. He encouraged her to apply for the 14-week training program. Certified by the Delaware Department of Education as a trade…

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Vernon Dixon recognized a great opportunity when it appeared on his phone. He already knew that age is no obstacle to self-improvement too. This 65-year-old Dover resident is an enthusiastic student at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Culinary School in Milford. While he may not have considered entering a career in the food service industry,…

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Contact with four friends who completed training at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Culinary School in Milford piqued Angela Smith’s interest in professional culinary training. But she was hesitant about further investigating enrollment possibilities because she was already employed. “I thought it was income-based, and I thought I would get turned away,” she said. But…

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Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent Omicron surge, the Food Bank of Delaware’s Culinary Schools continue to provide on-site training. Camden resident Jordan Montanye is excited for an opportunity to learn skills that serve as the foundation for a new career. Even the double-masking protocol doesn’t dampen Jordan’s enthusiasm. “It’s going great,” he said,…

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