Graduates from FoodWorks Class 28 left our 12-week culinary program last Friday with a ServSafe Manager certification, job readiness skills, and a desire to give back despite facing an unimaginable amount of hardships. Here are some of their stories.
Nutrition matters. It’s that simple. A diet that supplies the body with the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle and allows people to achieve their full potential. In this series of blog posts, our resident nutritionist Kathy Egan (RDN, LD, MEd) will explore how the Maryland Food Bank is helping ensure that food-insecure Marylanders have consistent access to healthy foods and understand the importance of nutrition in their lives.
MyPlate is the United States Department of Agriculture’s set of guidelines for helping kids establish healthy eating habits. The MyPlate model simplifies the “Food Pyramid” that many Americans grew up with into five food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy. All of our MFB Kids programs (Summer Clubs, Supper Clubs, School Pantries, and HEART Markets) follow the MyPlate guidelines to ensure that kids (and their families) are able to build a solid nutritional foundation, positioning them for success.
At the Maryland Food Bank, we have many programs that provide food to those in need, but our FoodWorks culinary training program is the only one that allows us to work one-on-one with individuals, offering them education and employment opportunities to improve their lives and positively impact their communities. On Friday, April 20, we gathered to wish the 27th graduating class of FoodWorks farewell as they enter careers in the culinary world.
In this second entry in an on-going series exploring the various reasons that people donate to the Maryland Food Bank, Mitzi Perdue shares her response to the question “Why Donate?” which focuses on one of the lesser known functions of the Maryland Food Bank.
Check out the latest local and national news about the Maryland Food Bank and how we’re addressing hunger in our communities.
