The Culinary Program
The Culinary Program of End Hunger in Calvert County introduces foundational culinary and workplace readiness skills to individuals 16 years or older with learning differences seeking employment in the food-service and catering industries.
Mission
To improve the lives of people with learning differences and disabilities through vocational training, life skills development, and community.
Vision
An inclusive, growing community of individuals moving toward independence and meaningful employment.
Session Info
The Culinary Program is a noncredit workforce development program designed to provide hands-on culinary training and employment readiness skills. Each session is limited to 6 students to ensure individualized instruction and meaningful learning experiences.
Successful completion of the program requires full participation in classroom instruction, hands-on kitchen labs, and experiential learning opportunities.
Program Staff:
- Veronica Muzzey – Program Director
- Paige Bagot – Culinary Instructor
- Additional Instruction: Guest chefs and culinary professionals from the community join throughout the program to share their expertise, experiences, and industry knowledge.
Program Details:
- Admissions: Rolling admission; applications are currently being accepted
- Location: Chesapeake Church (Huntingtown, MD)
- Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
- Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Program Length: 10 weeks
- Class Size: Limited to 6 students per session
Weather Closures
The Culinary Program follows Calvert County Public Schools’ closure decisions for weather-related cancellations and delays.
Learn more about the Curriculum Topics and Student Attributes for Success
Pathways to Employment
Apply
Individuals 16 years or older with learning differences seeking employment. Fill out our online application, and schedule an Admissions interview with our team.
Learn
Ten weeks of FREE Training to prepare for work in the food service and catering industries. Plus, instruction on workplace readiness and executive functioning skill development.
Experience
Work experience with a job coach including front & back of house, prep work, and more.
Graduate
Receive the National ServSafe Food Handler Certification testing and a program certificate of completion.
Job Match
Our graduates are strategically matched with our hiring partners to create a successful employment experience for all.
“I would describe this program as a key that unlocked many doors. This program gave me the opportunity to find employment in a field I enjoy.”
Spencer F.
Culinary Program Spring 2026 Cohort Graduate
Alumni Program
Beyond the classroom and graduation, the Culinary Program is building a sense of community through our Alumni Program. This is a growing network of support for graduates as well as their parents who are navigating this journey toward independence alongside their child.
Our Partners
FAQs
Take a look at our Student Attributes for Success and see how your prospective applicant aligns with them. If you have any questions at all about how your prospective applicant relates to this list, our staff is happy to talk it through with you.
Our application process is designed to help students and their support teams learn more about the program and determine if it is the right fit. The steps are simple:
Step 1: Submit an Interest Form
Complete our online interest form to get started. Shortly after submission, a member of our team will reach out to provide more information, answer any initial questions, and guide you through the next steps.
Step 2: Complete the Application
After connecting with our team, you will receive an application via email to complete and return.
Step 3: Attend an Admissions Interview & Observation
Applicants will participate in an admissions interview and observation with our staff. A guardian or support person is encouraged to attend as part of this process.
Step 4: Receive Application Status
Following the interview and observation, a member of our team will follow up to share your application status and discuss next steps.
Additional support people are welcome! We can discuss the needs of the applicant in further detail during the interview. We will also share how our staff is able to assist in meeting those needs or if additional support during class is necessary.
Do they have a desire for a job and career exploration? – A lot of people don’t know if a certain field of work is 100% what they want to do, but the key piece is wanting to explore it. Much of what we cover in class can actually be applied to jobs throughout a variety of fields, so if it turns out that food service isn’t for them, the time has not been wasted.
We have working relationships with multiple school systems, so reach out to us as well as your school system’s Transition Coordinator or Special Education Educator and we can explore it together. Sometimes it fits into a student’s school day, and sometimes it has to wait until after graduation, but either way, let’s talk about it!
End Hunger in Calvert County meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability
You can be confident when you give a gift to End Hunger In Calvert County. As an Accredited Charity of the Better Business Bureau, $0.96 of every dollar donated goes directly into making a lasting difference in the community and supporting our mission.