SARASOTA, Fla. — Thanks to a $50,000 grant, The Haven in Sarasota has established a free culinary training program that will help people with disabilities in Sarasota and Manatee counties find jobs in the service industry.

The program, which is funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, started last month.

What You Need To Know

  • The Haven received a $50,000 grant to start a free culinary training program that will help those with disabilities in Sarasota and Manatee counties find jobs in the service industry

  • The program, which is funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, started last month

  • The organization's Culinary Academy started in early April 2024 and will last for one year

  • The Haven CEO Brad Jones said he hopes they will be able to certify roughly 100 people with disabilities

The Haven CEO Brad Jones said they hope to certify 80 to 100 people through the new program, which will last for one year.

“Adults with disabilities are really underemployed,” he said. “I think it’s over 80%, so just having a free, no-cost program for them to receive some sort of training to use on a resume and gain experience to discuss with employers is crucial.”

One of the program participants, Tessa Rager, says she is no stranger to putting a meal together.

“We are making a non-traditional salad with pomegranates and all kinds of different olives,” she said.

Rager has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and says every now and then she needs some guidance. She said her interest in cooking started when she was a kid helping her family in the kitchen. Now she dreams of working in a restaurant.

“Cooking is something that is always fun and enjoyable,” she said. “Especially with family.”

To reach her goal, Rager signed up for The Haven’s new four-week culinary training program, which gives people with disabilities the experience they need to get a job in the industry.

“It teaches us that people with disabilities can get a job,” she said. “It’s just a part of everyday living and everyday life.”

Each month, a group of about 10 people will receive hands-on training and learn the basics like knife skills from culinary instructor Lisa Himmelrich.

There’s also classroom instruction, as students complete ServSafe courses. Each course has an exam, and if the student passes, they receive a ServSafe certification.

Rager said this will open up so many new opportunities for her.

“Just everything is going to be amazing,” she said.

Anyone interested in applying to be a student in the next set of classes is encouraged to visit The Haven's Culinary Academy program website.