Aunt Leah’s Restaurant Training and Community Meal Program started in 1994. We estimate that in the past fourteen years, we have had nearly 300 young graduates.

Cooking Club & Community Meal Program

The Cooking Club and Community Meal Program is a revised version of Aunt Leah’s Restaurant Training Program. Previously, the Restaurant Training program curriculum had focused around serving skills. The youth in the program learned communications skills, as well as serving and bussing skills. Participants also learned safe handling of food and some food preparation, but had limited involvement in the cooking.

Aunt Leah’s Cooking Club and Community Meal Program is just the opposite. Participants in the Cooking Club come together with staff to learn about nutrition, menu planning and how to cook for themselves and have food to share during the workshops and food to take home with them. This revised program is a combination of the Restaurant Training Program with the Cooking Club provides participants who have been learning to cook for themselves to have an opportunity to learn how to cook the food that is supplied for the Community Meals that are provided to the public each week.

Skills Taught in the Cooking Club & Community Meal

The Cooking Club & Community Meal Program teaches job readiness skills for entry level positions in the food service industry. Participants in the program learn communications skills, serving and bussing skills, safe handling of food, nutrition, menu planning and how to cook not only for themselves, but how to cook food on a larger scale that is then supplied to a Community Meal served at a local church.

In addition to employment skills, Graduates of the program will receive a certificate of their accomplishments, help with their resume and job search process, and a letter of reference. Participants also receive certification in Food Safe and Superhost and attend Aunt Leah’s Independent Living for Families and Youth (ILFFY) workshops that teach lifeskills to assist with their transition to independent living.

How to Apply to the Cooking Club Training Program

To apply to become a participant in the cooking club training program, download and fill out our Cooking Club & Community Meal Training Application Form and mail it to us.

Cooking Club Training Application Form – Click Here to Download the PDF

For more information about the Cooking Club & Community Meal Program, please contact us.