18Y
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
APRIL, 2014
Maldonado finds his niche in the kitchen Jerome Maldonado discovered a passion for cooking and hopes to become a master chef some day.
STORY AND PHOTO BY ELI RUIZ
T The New Hope Community salutes you and the joy and dedication you bring to the job each and every day.
14948
SENO-111871
Congratulations JEROME MALDONADO
wenty-two-year-old Jerome Maldonado is the epitome of the overachiever. A resident at one of the many “supportive apartments” maintained by SullivanArc, Maldonado began working in the maintenance department at New Hope Community in Loch Sheldrake starting in August 2012. But soon Maldonado’s secret got out: he could cook. “We found out he had some experience with cooking,” said New Hope’s Director of Supportive
only with this coupon • eat in only
2
SENO-104755
16224
$ 10 LARGE PLAIN PIE 10 $
www.NewHopeCommunity.org Supporting People with intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities Since 1975
$
Employment Carl Santos, adding, “As soon as we realized he could, we made the move” – Maldonado was transferred to New Hope’s “Community Bistro,” where employees can order fresh made meals for breakfast and lunch. As Santos tells it, it was New Hope Supportive Employment Coordinator Ronald Totten who first identified Maldonado’s strength. “He [Totten] came to me and said ‘I think we have a great employee here,’ ” he explained. “So we decided to bring him into our program.” In October of last year Maldonado started his new job at Community Bistro, and the move has certainly worked out for the best. As Santos put it, “He’s just been excellent and thrived in the kitchen. It turned out to be the perfect fit for Jerome and we have no regrets. He’s always there ready to do everything from prep work, cooking and running the register. He just has a very positive, great personality and has developed a wonderful rapport with everyone here at New Hope.” As for his influences in the kitchen, Maldonado quickly cites his mother: “She taught me how to cook,” he said “She taught me everything I know.” Maldonado admits that his favorite kitchen activity is baking, and rumor has it the young man makes a “mean cheesecake.” Having graduated from Sullivan County BOCES’s culinary program in June, 2013, Maldonado has even loftier goals: “I want to become a master chef,” he affirms. “That’s my goal… master chef.” “I love it [cooking],” exclaimed Maldonado. “I have a passion for cooking and the people and customers I work with are wonderful… they love me.”
00
- or OFF TWO DINNERS
only with this coupon • eat in only