By Sarah Wallace

Food Bank to give a leg up in the kitchen

Oct 3, 2015 | 8:34 AM

A course being offered at Prince Albert’s  Food Bank is trying to give participants a leg up.

The Commercial Kitchen Readiness Course is a part-time, casual guidance program for volunteers at the food bank, or others who are either interested in the program or are referred to the food bank through another avenue.

Richard Groot, the new volunteer coordinator, said the course is for those people interested in possibly pursuing a career in the culinary arts. 

As a military cook Groot has the background and experience to help run the course.

“We have a few modules to go through, it gives people a leg up and an idea of whether or not this might be something for them.”

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The modules are set up into three categories:

1. Commercial kitchen safety
2. Nutrition and food safety
3. Practical knife skills and food safety

“The goal is to help uplift our candidates into a position where they can go to school and even function, like with the food safe and the commercial kitchen/safety aspect,” Groot said.

He said the course is a way for participants to see if the culinary arts area is for them.

“It gives them a leg up and a look into what a commercial kitchen is.

“Because I was a military cook and worked in the officer’s mess I get to show a lot of the higher end, artsy kind of aspects of cooking.”

The program is free and open to anyone.

According to Groot the project focuses on aboriginal volunteerism and then potentially at-risk youth, “people who are coming out of adverse situations that are now into the workforce.”

A flexible schedule means part-time modules are available for those with scheduling conflicts.

The Commercial Kitchen Readiness Course is part of a partnership with the Friendship Centers of Saskatchewan and the Urban Partnership Program.

“It means a lot to me,” Groot said.

“In my personal side it assists because I have a passion for veteran’s issues and the Food Bank is an area where I find those issues, so I can help as a side thing, guide people to the resources they might need.”

The Commercial Kitchen Readiness Course takes place at the Prince Albert Food Bank. 

For more information on the course contact Groot at 306-763-5040 or Richard.Groot@pafoodbank.ca

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid