When you give to Philabundance, you don’t just provide food. Your gifts give your neighbors the chance at a better life through Philabundance Community Kitchen (PCK).
PCK is an intensive 14-week program that trains low- to no-income adults the technical and life skills they need to work in the culinary industry. PCK has an 80% job placement rate, and it’s a no-nonsense course — a recent class began with 17 students, but only eight graduated. Markeeta was one of them.
“I don’t know where I’d be without this program,” she says.
Markeeta was raising her two children — Destiny, 9, and Elijah, 11 — with the help of her mother. But shortly after her mom passed away, the family was on the verge of homelessness. Markeeta had no choice but to send Destiny and Elijah to live with their dad as she scrambled to get back on her feet.
This program is an open door for neighbors like Markeeta, who just need the chance to improve their situation.
Through Philabundance Community Kitchen, Markeeta was connected with a life coach who helped her secure a safe place to stay. She laughs now saying that although she’s never been a morning person, she’s been thrilled to wake up in the wee hours to begin her work at Philabundance Community Kitchen.
Now that she’s graduated from the program, she plans to become a partner in her sister’s catering business. Elijah, Markeeta’s son, loves to cook and she’s excited to share some of her new knowledge with him.
This program is an open door for neighbors like Markeeta, who just need the chance to improve their situation. She knows she has you to thank for this important opportunity.
“Thank you,” Markeeta says, with a bright smile. “Without donors, this program wouldn’t be able to help as many people. This changes our lives.”