Food Bank of Delaware training programs offer second chances for success

August 22, 2024

The accomplishments of 17 students from the Food Bank of Delaware’s culinary and warehousing logistics training programs were celebrated this morning at a graduation ceremony.

The graduates served as a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passion. The ceremony marked not only their achievements but was also a celebration of second chances and finding one’s way.

The graduates were:

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

Harold Bissoon
Donte Brown
Chetor Carter
James Freeland
Vonnie Lacey
Derek Lord
Dreama O’Neal
Elijah Rayfield
Anthony Schmidt
Takeil Thomas

Culinary

Damonae Backus
Gregory Davis
Chad Hart
Ali Harrington
Aniqua Jolly
Ida Luke
Cameron Saunders

The graduates have spent the past 14 weeks learning the ins and outs of the culinary and warehousing/logistics fields. Both programs provide participants with hands-on experience in a commercial kitchen or industrial warehouse setting, covering essential skills such as food safety, knife handling, forklift operation, safety protocols and other critical aspects of the food service and supply chain logistics. Graduates emerge from these programs with certifications, knowledge and confidence to excel in various entry-level roles.

Chef Tim Witcher, Owner of the Wing Kitchen and Witcher’s Kitchen, provided keynote remarks. He advised students, “Every step you take, needs to mean something… so whether you are in the kitchen, in life or in a new job, capture the moment, visualize yourself as you take on that new opportunity.”

For L.O.G.I.C. graduate Derek Lord the program gave him direction. “These people will help you, they will help you find your path… I am a living testament. I started my job two weeks ago,” he said.

Graduate Takeil Thomas said, “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I came here, but it was an opportunity to change my life. I didn’t think I was going to finish the 14 weeks, honestly. I just came here. It was something different. I am glad I did. I can actually say, I feel like I am in a better position than when I started.”

Culinary graduate Aniqua Jolly discovered the program when she needed both a career change and to learn the skills to nourish her pre-diabetic son.

“Everyone here [Food Bank of Delaware] made sure we were successful,” she said. “Never in a million years did I ever dream of cooking, yet alone, professionally. My dad used to have a joke that I would burn water. My father passed in February of 2021, and cooking surprisingly gave me a sense of closeness to him.”

The programs are free to participants thanks to corporate sponsors, and the Food Bank utilizes its community connections to help students find employment throughout the state. Participants come from all walks of life and all have a variety of career goals.

The next 14-week cohort of both training programs at the Food Bank of Delaware begin on September 9. To learn more about the program, visit www.fbd.org/delawarefoodworks.