Superstars in Education RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION & TRAINING
Not a Job, But a Career Food Bank of Delaware develops career skills for unemployed and underemployed adults BY COLIN HEFFINGER LEARNING VALUABLE CAREER SKILLS can be a tremendous challenge when simultaneously facing the reality of being unemployed or underemployed. These adults are often stuck in a discouraging cycle of the inability to acquire a job that provides enough to sustain their lives and families while also acquiring the skills needed for a rewarding career opportunity. Additionally, they may face other barriers to employment such as caretaker responsibilities, substance use, incarceration, or health issues. The Food Bank of Delaware, with locations in Newark and Milford, provides two Delaware Department of Education recognized training programs that prepare these adults for meaningful career opportunities through dedicated classroom work, on-the-job training, experiential learning, and continuous comprehensive support. These programs are made possible through the support of funders. The Food Bank of Delaware’s first training program, The Culinary 26
School (TCS), has been in operation since 2002 and plays an important role as the restaurant and food service industry drives forth Delaware’s economy. Under the instruction of the Food Bank’s chef instructors, students spend 14 weeks learning basic and high-end kitchen skills as well as the opportunity to become ServSafe© certified in preparation for entrylevel jobs in the culinary and food service industry. The Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing, and Inventory Control (LOGIC) Training Program has been in operation since 2018 and is building from the Operations Department’s years of warehousing and logistics experience. The 11-week program prepares students for careers in the industry as well as offering an opportunity to receive OSHA-10 General Industry Certification and a Forklift Certification. The final two weeks of the program provide on-the-job paid work experience at a partner employer or onsite warehouse. Anna McDermott, senior director of workforce and community May / Jun e 2022
| DELAWARE BUSINESS
