"Try the macaroni and cheese," urges the chef-in-training behind the buffet line, his white apron starched and his hair neatly tucked inside a plastic cap. "It's the best."
His classmates nod as guests load up on the rich, creamy dish. The consensus is clear: guests will not leave hungry, or disappointed.
Budding chefs at the Freestore Foodbank's Cincinnati Cooks program take their food seriously. They plan on making a career out of food service. Each new 10-week class that starts at the Rosenthal Community Kitchen downtown demands its members stay clean, sober and dedicated to learning the trade. In return, students receive free classes and leftovers to take home.
Every day, the classes' work feeds about 1,200 schoolchildren at 20 Kids Cafes located throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. After school, students look forward to sampling chicken and noodles, beef stew, jambalaya and, of course, mac and cheese. Every school day, Kids Cafes offer free fresh food alongside tutoring, homework help and organized activities.
Program Director Dennis Coskie, who has been with the Cincinnati Cooks since its inception 10 years ago, explains that the program operates as a model of efficiency. "We're utilizing donated foods so they don't go to waste. We are training people with marketable skills. And we're feeding 1,200 hungry kids every day," he says. "It's got a lot of magic to it."
Coskie has overseen 94 classes and 780 Cincinnati Cooks graduates so far. "It's a thrill to watch people make a positive change in their lives," he says.
The success rate for graduates continues to attract more students along with community praise. More than three-quarters of graduates find jobs within two months of graduating and 60 percent are still employed a year later.
Do Good:
• Spice up your next event. Try Cincinnati Cooks Catering and let professional cooks serve you top-quality foods while the funds raised support Cincinnati Cooks. And yes, they do weddings.
• Join the Virtual Food Drive. Help the Freestore Foodbank serve more clients from the comfort of your computer.
• Send a message of hope. Write a personal note to let people struggling in our community know they have not been forgotten.
For Good News Editor: Elissa Yancey (Sonnenberg)
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