Our Food Service Training Academy (FSTA) exemplifies our commitment to addressing the root cause of hunger – poverty – by providing graduates with marketable job skills that can lead to a living wage. It is one of two job training programs at CFBNJ.
This 14-week intensive culinary and life skills program provides students with the foundation for a better life and teaches them about communication, nutrition and healthy cooking. We started the FSTA in 2000 and have graduated more than 2,500 students with an average job-placement rate exceeding 90 percent.
About Our Culinary Job Training Program
Students train in a state-of-the-art, fully-equipped commercial kitchen, where they prepare healthy meals for thousands of food insecure children at our Kids Cafes and Summer Nutrition sites. They support FoodBank events and are placed in internships to gain hands-on experience.
FSTA graduates also earn their ServSafe® Certification by participating in the program.
Grants and scholarships are available to those who qualify.
This program is possible due to support from ADP Foundation, Anthem, Cargill, Prudential Foundation, and ShopRite LPGA Classic.
CFBNJ Culinary Program Start Dates
Here are the FSTA start dates for the next few months:
- December 18, 2023
- February 26, 2024
- April 29, 2024
Apply for FSTA
Fill out the form below to receive a full application to the Food Service Training Academy. The application is 44 questions long (mostly multiple choice), including a job history if applicable, and should take between 10-15 minutes to complete.
“It is, for all of us, a life-changing program.” -Marie
“This program offered me the skills that I needed to be able to provide for my family for the rest of my life.” -Ivonne
“I'm learning something different every day here, and the chefs really teach us how to do things the right way.” -Jackie