Goodwill Industries of Central Florida recently contributed a $10,000 grant to the Legacy Café, located at the Heart of West Lakes Wellbeing Center in Orlando, to help launch a summer culinary internship for high schoolers.
The Plated Purpose Culinary Program lasts eight weeks and uses a real-world setting to teach students kitchen basics – such as knife skills, food safety and baking techniques.
They also learn about restaurant management including: Inventory tracking, Staff scheduling, and Conflict resolution.
“Right now, the six teenagers in this program are studying how to thrive in a professional setting before they even earn their high school diplomas,” said Dr. Bahíyyah Maroon, Vice President of Mission Impact for Goodwill Industries of Central Florida (GICF). “By giving them this knowledge at such a young age, we’re helping them find success in one of Central Florida’s leading industries – all in the spirit of Building Lives That Work.”
To further support the interns, GICF is providing them with a financial literacy course in which they can learn how to maintain a budget and build savings.
“This program doesn’t just teach them how to cook; it shows them they belong in rooms they never imagined,” said Brittney Brown, the Director of Operations at Legacy Café. “At Plated Purpose, our students aren’t just developing culinary skills; they’re stepping into identity, ownership and excellence. For many of them, this is the first time they’re seen, challenged and celebrated all at once. Thanks to Goodwill, we’re not just filling plates, we’re filling hearts with purpose and futures with possibility.”
A graduation ceremony was scheduled for July 24th.
Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has provided vocational and job placement services to tens of thousands of people living in Central Florida. Through 31 retail/outlet stores and 21 Donation Xpress locations in Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, Brevard County, Lake County and Volusia County, Goodwill diverted nearly 24 million pounds of clothing and household items from landfills in 2024. To learn more about how shopping and donating at Goodwill supports community initiatives, visit Goodwill online.
