Carson students visit Cincinnati Cooks kitchen

Carson School students in FamiliesFORWARD’s After-School Program got an up-close view of where some of their Kids Café meals are cooked.

Twenty-three students visited the Freestore Foodbank’s Cincinnati Cooks kitchen on Central Parkway, where they observed preparation of meals and then dined.

Students who participated in the Feb. 28, 2013, field trip: Michara Allen, Mikel Allen, Paige Brown, Paul Brown, Devon Estes, Nicolette Estes, Blake Griffis, Brooke Griffis, Makayla Hammons, Amaya Harris, Anthony Harris, Ka'Mya Hubbard, German Palacios, Luis Palacios, Brianna Reynolds, Zion Reynolds, Davonna Roper, Camiya Starr, Gianna Twitty, Cameron Wert, JuaNiya Whitehead, Miavonni Williams and Moriah Williams.

The Cincinnati Cooks program provides hands-on training for unemployed or underemployed trainees who have a desire to work in the food-service industry. It also provides job-placement assistance to those who graduate from the free 10-week culinary program. Trainees learn food-preparation techniques and gain food-safety knowledge.

Most meals and snacks prepared in the program are served at schools as part of the Freestore’s Kids Café program. Kids Café provides hot meals to students in after-school programs, such as those operated by FamiliesFORWARD. Otherwise, some of those students might not get an evening meal.

—Bill Ferguson Jr.