On January 14, 2013, Culinary Art students from JobTrain
volunteered their time and expertise to prepare tasty and nutritious meals for
seniors residing at The Sheridan in Palo Alto, CA. Senior Loie Johnson,
expressed delight for JobTrain students teaching her fellow residents how to
prepare traditional dishes with a creative and healthier twist. “If I
could afford it, I’d hire JobTrain students to cook for me every single day.
The experience was just wonderful,” said Loie.
Led by JobTrain Culinary Arts student Sean Swihart,
residents enjoyed an entrée of baked salmon and side dishes of creamy squash
risotto, coleslaw, and candied carrots. The meal concluded with a delicious
dessert of vanilla icecream drizzled with olive oil and sea salt.
Sheridan resident Candy, learns to prepare risotto, alongside JobTrain chefs
The Sheridan residents loved the culinary workshop, enjoyed
the food, and emphatically invited the JobTrain chefs to return next month.
Since 2012, JobTrain student chef Sean Swihart, envisioned
teaching the elderly how to creatively prepare tasty meals for residents living
on a fixed income. “It was really important to me (personally) to teach
seniors how to cook healthily, quickly and conveniently – with the ingredients
they most readily have access to,” said Chef Sean.
“Growing up in Italy, we were taught that the table is
family – it is community. Thank you for being here for us, for being our family
and building our community,” conveyed Sheridan resident Candy.
Watch Video 
JobTrain Chefs Halle and Sean with residents of The Sheridan
At JobTrain, we transform student lives and connect, build
and help our communities. If you’d like to learn more about JobTrain, please
contact Director of Marketing & Public Relations Kail Lubarsky at 650.330.6569
or via klubarsky@jobtrainworks.org.