Blandina’s interest in cooking began in high school, where she spent two years taking culinary classes. The first year covered the basics, but by her senior year, she was in the kitchen trying out recipes, building new skills, and making real dishes.
“It really brought out the joy of cooking. It was really enjoyable for me, and just to learn new things, because I don’t really cook at home all that much. Being in the class, it was really fun,” she recalled.
During her senior year, Blandina’s aunt told her about Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Culinary Training Program. The free program provides hands-on training and career-readiness skill development for adults seeking to build long-term careers in the food industry. She wanted to apply right away but had to wait until she turned eighteen that summer. While in the program, Blandina broadened her horizons not only by learning new cooking skills but also by connecting with the people around her.not only by learning new cooking skills but also by connecting with the people around her.
“What I really like about the program is that people come here from all different paths, but in the kitchen, we all come together. Every week we cook a different culture’s food, and if the dish comes out good, we win together, and if it comes out bad, we lose together and learn from it.”
Throughout the program, Blandina worked with program staff on her resume and interviewing skills. Their support helped her land a job in the hospitality industry at a local theme park. In this new journey, Blandina is excited to continue learning and applying the skills from the program to the workplace.
“I learned there are several paths. You can work your way up from line cook to sous chef and even executive chef, or you can go into the nutrition side. I found that really interesting, being able to control the salt, label ingredients correctly, manage portions, and see how everything works from that side. I think that’s pretty cool.”
For students like Blandina, the program is more than training. It offers a path to stability, purpose, and a meaningful career. With her goals in mind, she feels more prepared, more confident, and closer to the future she’s working hard to achieve.
