Catering with conscience
In several cities, catering companies are training and hiring homeless people. A good idea? Yes. But the programs are also proving to be good for business.
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More than 300 students have graduated from this training program since its launch 12 years ago, and about 80 percent have found jobs in the culinary field. The catering business, which started seven years ago, is earning $200,000 a year and is beginning to make its mark in the competitive and crowded Washington catering field, taking on everything from 500-person weddings to small "power breakfasts."
But the skills learned here go beyond the kitchen, says Jeannine Sanford, director of New Course's classroom training and employment. Students take classes on self-esteem, time management, work ethics, and team building.
"They are learning how to respect themselves and others, " says Ms. Sanford, "... and this will stand them in good stead no matter what they do."
As a prerequisite to joining this program (and also Fresh Start), enrollees must be sober, have stable living conditions, and be ready to make a commitment to helping themselves. About half of each class drops out before the end of the training, unable to meet these demands, says Mr. Doscher.
"Basically, I had never completed anything in my life," admits Danita Wright, a recovering addict who graduated last week from a New Course training program. Her boyfriend and three best friends from the transitional house where she lives attended the ceremony. She cried, she says, from pride.
"I made some positive changes here," she reflects. "I saw that I could do something."
The bat mitzvah, meanwhile, was, a "flawless" event, according to Ms. Steinmetz. "They were phenomenal. Everyone commented on the presentation and the service. It was excellent work."
Admittedly, her older daughter was a little anxious about the idea initially. "She wanted to have it catered at the same fancy places her friends were," says Steinmetz.
But two years later, when her younger daughter was ready for her bat mitzvah, there was no question as to whom to call.
"There were some important Washington political types at the party, and I wanted to put out literature explaining the mission of the nonprofit so as to give them publicity," says Steinmetz.
But Doscher preferred to let the food speak for itself, and allowed her to mention the special nature of the group only as the party was coming to a close.
"That was impressive," Steinmetz notes. "Professional."
"The initial attraction might be what we are doing for the community," explains Doscher. "But then it very quickly becomes how we do it. You can be an altruistic person, but if the catering service fouls up your wedding, you won't go recommending it."
Vernon Marlow went through the New Course training program two years ago, soon after being released from a four-year jail sentence for drug possession. Today he is the assistant manager of the 3rd and Eats restaurant. He says that diners are looking for what the eatery has to offer.
"The customers come because we have good hot entrees and a respectable salad bar," he explains. "Sure, this business has changed many a life around ... mine included. But besides all that - not too many places have fresh turkey like we do. That's the secret here."
