TMCnet News

People's Emergency Center, Fresh Start Foods and Drexel University Team Up to Bring Healthy School Meals and Culinary Apprenticeships to West Philadelphia
[November 20, 2014]

People's Emergency Center, Fresh Start Foods and Drexel University Team Up to Bring Healthy School Meals and Culinary Apprenticeships to West Philadelphia


PHILADELPHIA --(Business Wire)--

People's Emergency Center (PEC), Fresh Start Foods and Drexel University today announced they are joining forces to launch a multi-purpose food service catering initiative that will bring healthier eating options and expanded economic opportunity to West Philadelphia. This new venture, Fresh Start Foods West Philadelphia, will provide fresh and healthy prepared meals for local schools while offering out-of-work young adults culinary apprenticeship jobs that provide living wages with benefits. The initiative has received more than $700,000 in federal and state grants, so far receiving financial support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Food Financing Initiative as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Fresh Start Foods West Philadelphia takes aim at two key problems by increasing access to fresh, affordable food for community residents and offering paid food service apprenticeship opportunities. Through this program, young adults who may have previously had limited access to education and minimal job experience will build meaningful skills, receive professional certifications and have the chance to begin a successful food service career.

"Good-tasting, good-for-you food should not be a luxury that only the privileged enjoy, which is why we set out to make healthy prepared meals affordable and accessible for community members who otherwise would not have the option," said Jay Guben, Ph.D., former Philadelphia restaurateur and founder of both The Restaurant School and Freire Charter School, who currently serves as a director at Fresh Start Foods. "Not only have we figured out how to deliver on this complex health initiative, but our unique structure also enables us to address workforce readiness by mobilizing young adults toward rewarding food service careers."

"PEC is deeply committed to strengthening neighborhoods and driving change in West Philadelphia, and the Fresh Start Foods model is a truy exceptional way to simultaneously tackle some of the health and employment challenges that plague our community," added Kira Strong, vice president of community and economic development, PEC. "By empowering and educating local residents, this program will make a meaningful impact on both the physical and economic health of West Philadelphia."



Recognizing schools as a pathway for community-wide change, as well as the relationship between proper nutrition and educational outcomes, this food service program will provide nutritious meals based on creative recipes that introduce more fruits, vegetables and alternative sources of protein into popular food items that kids actually want to eat. Drexel University's widely recognized Food Lab in the Department of Culinary Arts and Food Science will contribute its research and development expertise to collaborate with Fresh Start Foods for recipe innovation and taste testing. Once fully operational, Fresh Start Foods West Philadelphia will have the capacity to produce more than 2,000 healthy meals each day to neighborhood school children. Additionally, it will offer healthy meals to the community at large through the development of a retail store scheduled to open in fall 2015 in West Philadelphia's main commercial corridor at 3945 Lancaster Avenue.

Drexel Culinary Arts and Food Science will manage the professional education of apprentices by providing culinary training, including basic skills, principles of nutrition and meal planning and recipe development.


"Enabling young people to develop these valuable skills and start earning a living wage creates a critical foundation for the pathway to long-term personal and economic success," noted Jonathan Deutsche, Ph.D., professor of culinary arts and food science and director of Drexel's Center for Hospitality and Sport Management. "After kick-starting their careers with our training program, there's no limit to what our apprentices can achieve."

Apprentices will also have opportunities to earn professional certifications, including ServSafe® Food Safety Manager, food handler, food production manager and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) customer service credentials. The first training cohort will begin in March 2015.

About Fresh Start Foods

Fresh Start Foods is a non-profit organization that endeavors to provide healthy prepared meals for students and communities and training toward rewarding career paths for young adults. Visit www.freshstartfoods.org.

About PEC

The People's Emergency Center's mission is to nurture families, strengthen neighborhoods and drive change in West Philadelphia. Through a community of more than 240 housing units and five educational centers offering job training, parenting and early childhood education, financial education and planning, life skills and technology coursework, PEC seeks to change the life trajectory for the women and children who seek its services and inspire them to aspire to new heights. PEC community development programs respond to community needs and build on neighborhood assets to help bridge the digital divide, expand mixed-income housing opportunities, stimulate economic growth, create wealth, and improve the quality of life for all West Philadelphia residents. Visit www.pec-cares.org.


[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]