Delaware Food Works students celebrate graduation

October 22, 2020

Despite challenges posed by a hybrid learning model, the accomplishments of six students from the Food Bank’s Delaware Food Works training program were celebrated this morning at an outdoor socially-distanced graduation ceremony.  Students successfully completed training programs in food service and warehousing/logistics.

The graudates include:

The Culinary School

• Ronika Ervin
• Shajuan Henry
• Desiree Spearman

L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control)

• Juan Burton-Walker
• Kristine Evenson
• Nicholas Willis

The students started their training programs back in July. The first several weeks were spent learning remotely before in-person learning began.

Food Bank of Delaware Board Chairman and Vice President Owner of Bayshore Transportation, Andy Larmore, and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer provided keynote remarks for the ceremony.

“Thank you, graduates, for being dedicated, committed and sticking with your program, especially during COVID,” said Larmore.

County Executive Meyer echoed those thoughts, “I hope going forward as you look for work and you continue in your career and you face those set backs, that you will remember that resilency that it took to get here.”

Under the instruction of Chef Tim Hunter, the culinary students spent time at home and in the Food Bank kitchen learning the ins and outs of the culinary field. Soups, stocks, mother sauces, knife skills and more made up the curriculum of this 14-week program. Workforce Program Manager Lisa Grinnage provided life skills training and extra support for the students.

The students were thankful for the opportunity to attend the training program.

Culinary School graduate Shajuan Henry said, “I am just so happy that I made it. It was so hard. We started off with six weeks online learning about integrity and just being a better person. I learned so much. And then we came into class and half our class left us because it was hard. We stuck it out. We had such a great time together.”

Like the Culinary students, the L.O.G.I.C. students also learned both remotely and in person.

L.O.G.I.C. is an 11-week training program that prepares adults for careers in the warehousing/logistics industry.  Students trained in the warehouse of the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark with Operations Instructor Erik Klair and learned to use major equipment like end riders, lift trucks, order pickers and pallet jacks. They also had the opportunity to become OSHA-10 and forklift certified.

L.O.G.I.C. graduate Nicholas Willis said, “I just really admire the Food Bank and what it does. It only takes a few to help so many people. I appreciate it.”

The next Delaware Food Works classes begin Monday, November 23. Class will meet remotely and in person. To learn more and to apply, click here.

Congratulations to our graduates!