SVDP Culinary Academy cooks up success

It’s no coincidence that the largest room at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul building is the dining room. In an organization where 1,000 meals are served a day, the poor are no longer just being fed, they are also learning to cook and become great chefs, according to the Oakland Local, December 23, 2010.

Four times a year the Society – or SVdP – on 23rd Avenue accepts 20 standout individuals dealing with various levels of distress into its culinary academy and job placement program. Twelve weeks, 400 instruction hours and 30 tests later, the Kitchen of Champions Culinary Academy graduates “lean, mean cooking machines.”

Reflections:

• Did you ever think of cooking as a path out of poverty?
• Are you aware of the many pathways that the Society of St. VIncent dePaul offers?
• Did you know that Covenant House NY also offer culinary training for runaways?