Food Bank of Delaware offers summer culinary exploration program

June 28, 2022

The Food Bank of Delaware is currently accepting applications for its Summer Culinary Exploration Program scheduled to begin on Monday, July 25. This special training program offers students ages 16-21 with intellectual disabilities an early start at career exploration and preparation for adult life.

The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Mondays through Thursdays – through Aug. 19 and meets at the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark and Milford. Students will learn kitchen safety, knife identification, and sanitation methods. They will have an opportunity to enjoy hands-on cooking experiences, meet guest chefs, and participate in course-related field trips. At the completion of the course, students can earn a ServSafe® Food Handler Certificate.

“The Summer Culinary Exploration Program is a win-win opportunity not only for participants, but also for their future employers,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “The program provides a path forward and a safe and accepting environment for students to explore a career. Everyone deserves a chance for success. Labor statistics show that people with disabilities want to work, but often leave school without vocational training to enter a workplace. Our program can help fill the labor shortage by providing the needed training and connecting trainees with employers.”

In order to qualify, students must have a documented disability and be enrolled in school. The exploration program is made possible through the Delaware Department of Vocational Rehabilitation’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).

For more information, contact Workforce Training Program Manager Sheliah Smith in Newark at 302-292-1305 Ext. 234 or ssmith@fbd.org or Workforce Program Coordinator Michelle Cephas in Milford at 302-424-3301 Ext. 107 or mcephas@fbd.org. Apply online at www.fbd.org/preets.