The SMA Healthcare Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce being awarded a grant from State Farm® to support the culinary program at SMA Healthcare’s WARM (Women Assisting Recovering Mothers), Program at the Vince Carter Sanctuary.
State Farm® awarded $1,500 to purchase textbooks for the culinary arts program at WARM, which is provided through the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences Program. Under the expert instruction of SMA Executive Chef and UF Vocational Instructor Kevin Gallagher, CEC, the culinary program provides vocational and on-the-job training, including classroom instruction and testing. Chef Gallagher teaches students to plan and prepare recipes, safe food handling, food service personnel management. Students are able to receive their Professional Food Safety Manager Certification (Sanitation), Nutrition for Food Service Personnel, Dining Room Management, and Hospitality and Restaurant Management certificates.
“In FY 2019-2020, 94 women at WARM successfully participated in the culinary program and received their certifications” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Director, “and we are especially proud of the training they receive through outside catering opportunities, as well as providing meals daily for over 70 women and 25 children who reside at WARM.”
WARM is a long-term residential treatment facility for women with symptoms of drug and alcohol dependence, with beds designated for but not limited to women who are pregnant, post-partum, and parenting young children. The women, and their children under age 6, live on campus in a therapeutic and supportive environment. Children over 6 are able to visit on weekends. WARM provides a broad range of services based upon the client’s individual needs as identified during their admission assessment.
“The mission of State Farm® is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams” shares Jose Soto, State Farm® Corporate Responsibility Analyst. “SMA Healthcare’s WARM culinary program will provide valuable vocational and job training skills that will help the women succeed in the workforce.”
For more information about WARM or other SMA Healthcare services, please visit www.SMAHealthcare.org.
If you are interested in supporting SMA Healthcare and the SMA Healthcare Foundation, please contact Jennifer Secor, CFRE, Executive Director, at 386-254-1139 or jsecor@smahealthcare.org.