More Than a Meal

June 11, 2026

How Florida Food Banks Are Training Neighbors for New Careers

Feeding Florida’s network of food banks recognizes that hunger is a problem that food alone cannot solve. To truly help, they all look at the root causes of why people are hungry in the first place. With this, the food banks have become a model for workforce development—a bridge that helps neighbors move from receiving services to serving their communities. These programs aren’t just about learning a technical skill; they use a wrap-around approach. This means while a student learns a trade, they also get help with life skills, financial literacy, resume writing, and even crisis management support to make sure they can stay on track and graduate.

Cooking Up a New Future: Culinary Arts Programs

Because food is the centerpiece of our operations, culinary training is a natural workforce pathway, with programs at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Feeding South Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, and Treasure Coast Food Bank. These courses generally last between 10 and 16 weeks and take place in professional, commercial-sized kitchens with highly trained chefs and instructors.

For example, Feeding South Florida uses a 5,000-square-foot kitchen where students follow a curriculum designed by James Beard-nominated Chef Lindsay Autry. Students don’t just learn to follow recipes; they learn the science and professionalism of the industry. Students find themselves learning everything from homemade pasta to complex French terminology.

“I’ve learned the science behind food—things like how gluten works and how different types of water can affect it,” shared Savannah Sirmans, a graduate from Treasure Coast Food Bank. “We also covered the basics, from knife skills to breaking down different proteins.”

The biggest change, however, is often internal. Courtney, a graduate from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Culinary Training Program, lived in emergency housing with her son before finding the program. She started the class with very little confidence, but the support of the instructors helped her realize her own potential.

“This program does more than what is needed for its participants to succeed. It provides an opportunity to learn something new and helps create a basis to create the career you’d like in the culinary field,” shared Courtney.

Today, she works at a restaurant on the property of a local theme park, specializing in sushi cuisine.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to expand my culinary knowledge and skill by now learning the details of sushi cuisine,” Courtney said after she secured her job. “(The program) provided me with the time it takes to get familiar with the kitchen atmosphere and to get comfortable moving around the kitchen on my own to complete a dish.”

(You can read more about Courtney’s experience in the program on the blog series “Stories of Hope”>>)

The Art of Service: Barista and Hospitality Training

For those who want to jump into the fast-paced world of coffee and customer service, Treasure Coast Food Bank offers a unique Barista and Hospitality Training program. Like the other tracks, this program provides free education and certifications to help neighbors enter the service industry with professional-level skills.

The Barista Program focuses on preparing individuals for customer-facing roles, which are often the starting point for long-term growth in the hospitality sector. By mastering these skills, participants gain the confidence to step into new possibilities and achieve financial independence.

Moving the Mission: Warehouse Management and Logistics

The Feeding Florida network is a critical part of Florida’s supply chain, with all 9 of our food banks employing individuals who work in warehouse management. When students participate in the warehouse and logistics workforce programs, they have access to real world experiences and a high-demand path to a stable career.

Feeding South Florida runs a 5-week Warehouse Associate Training Program inside their massive 72,000-square-foot distribution center in Pembroke Park. Feeding Tampa Bay and Treasure Coast Food Bank also offers a similar 10-week program focused on distribution and operations.

In these programs, students get hands-on experience with inventory management, equipment usage, and safety protocols, including meeting OSHA safety standards. They even learn to operate heavy machinery like forklifts. Our network has more than 20 warehouses with more than 500,000 square feet of storage for shelf stable food, refrigerated and frozen food, and emergency supplies. Training in these facilities mirrors a real-world industrial setting, giving students a head start on the technical skills employers are looking for.

Rodwell Patterson, a member of Feeding South Florida’s April 2025 cohort, said, “With my background in warehousing, I saw this as an opportunity to strengthen what I already know, gain hands-on experience, and connect with industry professionals who could help guide me in the right direction.”

Rodwell joined the program because he wanted to be part of the mission to end hunger while growing his own career. And for many like Rodwell, the program provides a renewed sense of purpose and a clear direction for the future.

(For another interesting story about one of our graduates, see this story about Curtis from Feeding Tampa Bay’s FreshForce Program>>)

Hitting the Road: CDL Driver Training

One of the most critical roles in the food bank world—and the economy at large—is the truck driver. The food supply chain our food banks operate includes more than 160 commercial trucks transporting food and resources across the state. To meet this need, Feeding Tampa Bay and Treasure Coast Food Bank offer Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training.

Through programs like FRESHforce at Feeding Tampa Bay, neighbors can rejoin the workforce in a field that offers competitive pay and long-term stability. This 10-week journey is designed to provide a “pathway to self-sustainability”.

Anthony’s journey with the FRESHforce program is a powerful example of how this training can completely change a life. At 19, Anthony was incarcerated, but he was determined to turn his life around for good. After being released on parole, a career coach connected him to Feeding Tampa Bay. In just 10 short weeks, Anthony earned his CDL Class B license and a new set of skills.

His hard work paid off in a big way—he was eventually promoted to Neighborhood Partnerships Coordinator, where he now oversees operations in Hardee, Highlands, and Polk County. Reflecting on his transformation, Anthony said, “This is my dream job to serve the community.”

Anthony’s story shows that with the right support, anyone can find a way to give back while building a stable future. By helping people earn these certifications at zero cost, food banks are ensuring their neighbors can afford food for a lifetime rather than just a meal for today.

(Learn more about Anthony and his journey on Feeding Tampa Bay’s profile>>)

A Path to Possibility

Feeding Florida’s workforce development programs are growing to help provide more paths for our neighbors, proving a temporary struggle doesn’t define a person’s entire life. Four of our food banks currently offer job training, and four more are laying the groundwork to begin programs in the near future.

At the end of the day, these programs are about more than just finding a job; they are about dignity. They empower people to transition from receiving help to serving their communities. Whether a neighbor is learning to bake bread, manage a warehouse, or drive a semi-truck, they are gaining the tools to build a stable future for themselves and their families.

More Than a Meal

June 11th, 2026

How Florida Food Banks Are Training Neighbors for New Careers Feeding Florida’s network of food banks recognizes that hunger is a problem that food alone cannot solve. To truly help, they all look at the root causes of why people are hungry in the first place. With this, the food banks have become a model […]

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