News Article

The Campus Kitchen at Gonzaga University (CKGU), an innovative hunger relief organization, will boost its community outreach activities with the addition of a Culinary Job Training program. The program will provide valuable food-service and life skills training and employment assistance to underemployed men and women in the Spokane area.

The eight-week course educates participants on basic food handling and preparation skills through presentations and side-by-side guidance from renowned chefs. Trainees further develop skills by preparing and delivering meals for individuals and social service agencies in the area. Life skills training is facilitated by Campus Kitchen’s staff, volunteers, and guest speakers. The training culminates in a food-handling exam and graduation ceremony. With the help of the Campus Kitchen, graduates then enter the work force.

The training program is scheduled to begin April 2 and end Aug. 4, and will take place at Cataldo Hall on the GU campus.

The ideal trainee is a motivated, job-seeking individual with a demonstrated interest in the food-service industry and a commitment to completing the program. All trainees must be referred by an existing social service agency, and must register by Feb. 13.. Classes meet four days a week for four to six hours each. The Campus Kitchen at Gonzaga University plans to enroll six to 10 trainees each session.

The Campus Kitchen at Gonzaga University is a student-driven initiative in which Gonzaga students recycle unserved food from Sodexho Dining Services, use Gonzaga’s dining services facilities to prepare meals, and then deliver those meals to low-income families, homebound seniors, and community agencies.

Since its start in August of 2005, the program has served more than 3,500 meals, engaged more than 150 volunteers, and used more than 2,000 pounds of donated and rescued food in their hunger relief efforts for the Spokane community. The CKGU Culinary Job Training program will continue to support these hunger relief efforts and empower trainees to obtain a greater level of self-sufficiency.
For more information, please contact Hannah Israel at (509) 323-6939 or via e-mail at hisrael@campuskitchens.org