The Culinary Program

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The Culinary Program of End Hunger introduces foundational culinary and workplace readiness skills to individuals 16 years or older with learning differences seeking employment in the food-service and catering industries.

Mission

To improve the lives of people with learning differences and disabilities through vocational training, life skills development, and community.

Vision

An inclusive, growing community of individuals moving toward independence and meaningful employment.

Session Info

This is a noncredit program and is limited to 6 students per session. Please note that completion requires full participation in the course and lab experiences.

Staff: Ahna Miller (Director of Programs), Maura Smith (Student Services Director)

Additional Instruction: Various Chefs and professionals from the community join to share their expertise

Rolling Admission: Accepting Applications

Location: Chesapeake Church (Huntingtown, MD)

Days and Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; 9:30AM-12:30PM

Program Length: 10 Weeks

Weather Closures: Follows Calvert County Public Schools Closure

Learn more about the Curriculum Topics and Student Attributes for Success

Pathways to Employment

Apply

Individuals 16 years or older with learning differences seeking employment. Fill out our online application, and schedule an Admissions interview with our team.

Learn

Ten weeks of FREE Training to prepare for work in the food service and catering industries. Plus, instruction on workplace readiness and executive functioning skill development.

Experience

Work experience with a job coach including front & back of house, prep work, and more.

Graduate

Receive the National ServSafe Food Handler Certification testing and a program certificate of completion.

Job Match

Our graduates are strategically matched with our hiring partners to create a successful employment experience for all.

“Just like any other parent, I want independence for my child. The End Hunger Culinary Program has played a huge role in our family taking steps in that direction.”

Jan

Culinary Alumni Parent

Alumni Program

Beyond the classroom and graduation, the Culinary Program is building a sense of community through our Alumni Program. This is a growing network of support for graduates as well as their parents who are navigating this journey toward independence alongside their child.

Our Partners

Our local restaurants & school system partners are vital to the continued learning and growth of our program. From teaching in the kitchen to providing field experiences and employment opportunities for our students and graduates, our partners add invaluable voices of expertise directly from the food service industry.

On December 23, 2022, Congress voted to send the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (FY23 Omnibus) to the President, which was signed into law by the President as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (Appropriations Act). The legislation included $1,133,000 in earmark funding for End Hunger’s Warehouse and $300,000 in earmark funding for the Culinary Program, referenced as the End Hunger Community Economic Development Project and the Pre-Apprentice Skills Program in the Appropriations Act.

FAQs

How do I know if my student is a good fit for the program?

Take a look at our Student Attributes for Success and see how your prospective applicant aligns with them. If you have any questions at all about how your prospective applicant relates to this list, our staff is happy to talk it through with you.

What does the application process look like?

Step 1: Fill out our online interest form. Soon after this is submitted, a member of our team will reach out to you to get you more information and answer any initial questions you may have.

Step 2: Fill out the application sent to you via email.

Step 3: Schedule an Admissions Interview (for both the applicant and a guardian or support person) with our staff.

Step 4: A member of our team will follow up to notify you of your application status.

Can my child have an aid, or additional support person attend with them to help in their success?

Additional support people are welcome! We can discuss the needs of the applicant in further detail during the interview. We will also share how our staff is able to assist in meeting those needs or if additional support during class is necessary.

What if my student knows they want to work but doesn't know if they want to go into food service?

Do they have a desire for a job and career exploration? – A lot of people don’t know if a certain field of work is 100% what they want to do, but the key piece is wanting to explore it. Much of what we cover in class can actually be applied to jobs throughout a variety of fields, so if it turns out that food service isn’t for them, the time has not been wasted.

How does this fit in with my student's school schedule?

We have working relationships with multiple school systems, so reach out to us as well as your school system’s Transition Coordinator or Special Education Educator and we can explore it together. Sometimes it fits into a student’s school day, and sometimes it has to wait until after graduation, but either way, let’s talk about it!

End Hunger in Calvert County meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability

You can be confident when you give a gift to End Hunger In Calvert County. As an Accredited Charity of the Better Business Bureau, $0.96 of every dollar donated goes directly into making a lasting difference in the community and supporting our mission.