Culinary Arts Training recently held a pasta competition for its students (Source: Cathedral Kitchen via Facebook).
The nonprofit not only provides food for those in need, but also offers job training and connection to other essential services
Since 1976, Cathedral Kitchen has been battling food insecurity in Camden, N.J. communities. The nonprofit not only provides food for those in need, but also offers job training and connection to other essential services.
Noreen Flewelling, senior development director of Cathedral Kitchen, spoke to Access Network about their mission and programs.
She explained, “Cathedral Kitchen’s mission is to help people out of food insecurity and champion their pursuit of stability and prosperity.”
They do this through their meal and outreach program, empowerment coaches and culinary arts training.
Flewelling explained that they served over 300,000 free meals in their dining room and delivered about 35,000 through outreach last year.
Meal guests of Cathedral Kitchen are also connected to essential resources such as benefits, counseling and healthcare through the CK Empowerment Coaches and have access to free personal care items including new socks and underwear.
Job training and employment are essential for stability and prosperity, so the nonprofit designed its own Culinary Arts Training program. Accredited by the American Culinary Federation and free to students, it regularly has an over 85% employment rate post-graduation. Over 500 individuals have graduated from the program.
Flewelling said they also have a catering division which contracts with other organizations like Volunteers of America to provide jobs in Camden and training experience for their culinary students. She added that it is also an important revenue stream for the nonprofit. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
The biggest challenge they face as a nonprofit, she said, is inflation. Because of rising costs of food, housing and utilities, more people need their services, but at the same time, the nonprofit is also paying higher prices to purchase the food and other necessary items it provides.
“We are a safety net for our guests. That is why our empowerment coaches are so important,” Flewelling said.
How can the community get involved?
Flewelling emphasized that in order to fulfill their mission they rely on the support of the community.
Monetary donations are the biggest need, but food donations are also appreciated.
She said they always need volunteers as well as especially during the summer months and back to school time.
An important fundraiser is coming up in November. Harvest for Hunger: Food & Wine Tasting will be held on Thursday, November 6 at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin, N.J. Come out for a night of bidding, food and drinks.
For more information about Cathedral Kitchen and the ways you can get involved, click here.
