Community Food Bank receives grant money for culinary training program | Community Spirit

The Caridad Community Kitchen Culinary Training Program, is getting a helping hand with funding from the Jewish Community Foundation-William and Doris Rubin Endowment Fund in the form of a grant worth $12,949.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona program started its most recent class of ‘culinary artists’ on July 2.  These students will continue a comprehensive ten week curriculum, designed by Chef Jon Wirtis and Debbie Purdon, to prepare themselves for a career in the field of culinary arts. 

Students were chosen from a group of recent and long-term unemployed individuals who were seeking training or retraining in the food service and restaurant industry.  These students were further selected from partnering agencies that help with distribution of Caridad’s prepared meals. 

 “We greatly appreciate this grant from the Jewish Community Foundation Rubin Fund,” said Chef Jon Wirtis.  “It will help us reach the goal to assist people who would otherwise not have access to a culinary training program to become productive individuals.”

After graduation from the program students will have the necessary skills for an entry level position in the Food and Restaurant/Hotel Industry.  The ultimate goal of the program is to graduate 50 students in their first year of the program.

For more information, please contact Chef Jon Wirtis or Debbie Purdon at (520) 882-5641.