Soups & Sweets enables adults with diverse learning needs to obtain competitive employment in the food service industry and to increase their level of independence at home. The six-month course includes 200 hours of food service training in a commercial kitchen. It also includes weekly work readiness classes on teamwork, attendance and punctuality, grooming and hygiene, workplace safety, positive communication, working effectively with supervisors, and professionalism.
Students also participate in the ServSafe Food Handler Course, a food and beverage safety training and certification program sponsored by the US National Restaurant Association and accredited by the Conference for Food Protection. ServSafe certification is an important addition to the résumés of our graduates.
Soups & Sweets welcomes applicants who want to challenge themselves, overcome obstacles, and strive to be their absolute best! Prospective students are referred to JFCS from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and local school districts. Our individualized instruction gives students the opportunity to explore areas of the culinary arts that particularly appeal to them. Participation criteria include the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, as well as the ability to read simple recipes and complete simple math problems. Students should also demonstrate appropriate social skills and be motivated to pursue a career in food service.
Soups & Sweets graduates have the opportunity to join the JFCS Supported Employment Program, an approved vendor of DVRS and DDD. Supported Employment helps students obtain and maintain meaningful, community-based employment, allowing them to achieve their full potential in the workplace. Employment specialists and job coaches assist with résumé writing, interview skills, job searches, and on-site mentorship.
As of June 2022, 95 students have graduated from Soups and Sweets. Eighty of these students obtained employment (84% success rate). Even more impressive, 70 of these students obtained employment in the food service industry (74% success rate). This statistic is remarkable given that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in 2019, only 19% of individuals with disabilities were employed. We are grateful to the many businesses in South Jersey that have hired our students!