FreshForce Student, Culinary Arts Program

Description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Feeding Tampa Bay serves ten counties in West Central Florida and is a leader in hunger relief across our region. Just last year, we served 85M meals to our neighbors through direct service and through our network of 400 food pantry partners. But, we know food alone won’t solve hunger — that’s why we’re redefining what it means to feed our region. By creating pathways to possibilities for nearly 1 million people, Feeding Tampa Bay connects and convenes solutions, partners and resources that nourish long-term stability. As a member of the Feeding America network, we will work to dismantle barriers for individuals, families and seniors across our area — because it’s possible.

Title: FreshForce Student, Culinary Arts Program

Salary: $14.00/hr.

Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Classification: Onsite

Benefits of the FreshForce Program

• Learn life skills, financial literacy, technology, and customer service practices
• Gain hands-on experience while learning technical skills
• Obtain certifications needed to enter the job force
• Connect with employers in your field
• Earn a stipend while you learn

Feeding Tampa Bay recognizes that it takes more than food to fight hunger. We employ a model that focuses not only on food for today, but also food for tomorrow, and eventually food for a lifetime. Programs like FreshForce help connect you to job training opportunities, rejoin the workforce, and provide a pathway to self-sustainability.

SUMMARY

The Feeding Tampa Bay FreshForce Training Program provides industry-recognized certifications and hands-on job training to individuals with barriers to employment.

The Culinary Arts program offers technical and professional skills to prepare students for employment in fields relating to food preparation, foodservice, and hospitality. The curriculum includes classroom instruction, testing, group discussion, hands-on experience, employability training, and life skills training to prepare students for successful employment in the industry. The courses offered also provide opportunities for students to obtain industry-recognized certifications such as ServSafe Food Handler and gain hands-on experience with a local establishment during an externship period. Students will work both individually and as a group throughout their time in the program. Students should expect to be trained in the classroom, in the training kitchen, and in kitchens at other facilities when participating in this program.

The training program is 10 weeks long and students are in class Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3:00pm. The program is provided at zero cost to students and they also receive a bi-weekly stipend of $14 an hour to help them overcome any financial barriers that may deter them from successfully completing the program. Students also receive support and resources to overcome barriers relating to food, housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and other related challenges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Objective

Over 10 weeks, the Culinary Arts program aims to provide students with the skills and training needed to obtain a job in the foodservice and hospitality industry.

• The program provides students with opportunities to:
• Understand the principles of food identification and nutrition;
• Learn and practice the professional skills used in food preparation and service;
• Gain experience in the proper use and maintenance of professional knives, hand tools, and commercial kitchen equipment;
• Become familiar with the layout and workflow of professional kitchens and restaurants;
• Learn and practice employability skills including effective workplace communication, professionalism, resume-writing, and interviewing;
• Learn and apply methods of task-management and time-management in the workplace;
• Understand and apply basic principles relating to customer service.

Requirements

To be eligible for this program an applicant must meet the following criteria. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Program Eligibility

• 18 years of age or older.
• Authorization to work in the US.
• Willingness to complete a drug screening and background check.
• Background check that does not possess a criminal history involving sexual assault or sexual battery.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for long periods of time.
• Access to reliable transportation for the duration of the 10-week program.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to commit to the program and obtain employment in a related field.
• Priority will be given to applicants experiencing barriers to employment and financial stability.
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. is preferred, but not required.

Applicants must submit or complete the following to be considered for admission:

• A completed and signed application.
• A completed FreshForce Screener and Intake Form.
• A completed in-person interview.
• Attendance during orientation.
• Possession of valid driver’s license, or a state/government- issued photo ID.

Cohort Dates

February 23rd, 2026 - May 1st, 2026

Admission Decisions

Applicants to one of the training programs will be placed into one of the following categories after review:

Accepted

Applicants in this category have been admitted into the FreshForce Training Program. If accepted, you will be notified by phone and/or email and provided information on next steps.

Wait-listed

Your application will be placed on a waitlist if you met admission criteria, but enrollment is at capacity. If wait-listed, you will be notified if an opportunity arises to enroll during the current or next enrollment period.

Declined

An application may be declined for not meeting admission criteria. Declined applicants will be notified via email and/or phone and may contact the Director of Workforce Development Programs or another member of the management team for additional information. If appropriate, students will be encouraged to reapply during a future enrollment period.

Salary : $14