CULINARY JOB TRAINING

The Tarrant Area FoodBank Community Kitchen provides free culinary job training to unemployed and low-income men and women and at the same time provides nutritious meals to partner charities.

A professional chef on the Food Bank's staff teaches a 14-week course in food preparation and service. Each student then serves a two-week, unpaid internship in a food service setting.

In addition, coaching in life- and time-management skills is provided to the students, some of whom may be unemployed, homeless or temporarily dependent on welfare.  The Food Bank also contracts with The Women's Center of Tarrant County for a case manager to provide, for all course participants, career coaching relating to job readiness and job retention.

Eligibility Criteria

Before a student is referred to the Community Kitchen program, he or she must meet some specific criteria (download one-page PDF). Most students are referred to the program by not-for-profit agencies such as the Salvation Army, Women's Center of Tarrant County and Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County.

Graduation

Class 10 graduated April 10, 2010 in festivities at Tarrant Area Food Bank in the Hub next to the Community Kitchen. They were the fourth class to graduate since the program moved into its new kitchen in the Food Bank's warehouse. 

The eight graduates are shown here with Community Kitchen staff including Production Chef Manuel Vasquez (far left in black), Executive Chef Vedat Lika (fourth from left), Kitchen Administrator Lylette Pharr (fourth from right), Case Manager Barbara Higby (second from right) and Chef's Assistant Gerald Green (far right).