Food is Success: Kenny’s Story
“You can’t give up. No matter how hard it is, you have to keep fighting because people depend on you.”
Kenny
Food is transformational.
“The day I was introduced to Second Harvest Food Bank and its Culinary Training Program was one of the greatest days of my life,” recalls Kenny Neal. He had been unemployed for two years, working odd jobs to keep food on the table for his family. It was time to make a change.
For 16 weeks, Kenny soaked up the knowledge and experiences offered at Second Harvest. The program provides hands-on culinary training and life skills education at no cost to qualified, at-risk, and economically disadvantaged adults. These lessons help graduates pursue new and sustainable careers in the food service industry.
“You can’t give up. No matter how hard it is, you have to keep fighting because people depend on you,” Kenny told himself day after day.
Graduation was just the beginning for Kenny. He went to work in the kitchen of a local country club, honing the skills he had learned in the program. His spirit of determination led him to pursue and achieve his ultimate dream of owning and running his own business.
Today, Chef Kenny runs Kolaiah’s Catering, a full-service catering company in Orlando. He serves large-scale events, prepares smaller meals as a private chef, and mentors up-and-coming cooks. Most importantly, he is proud to be an example for his family.
Thanks to you, Kenny has a foundation for a successful future.