Root NS Inc

In March 2020, Root launched our Community Catering initiative as an emergency response to help address Covid-related hunger relief efforts in Essex County. This mission-enhanced work continues today. Each week, a team of Root youth alumni employees produces 700+ meals for those struggling with food insecurity and for clients served by Lifebridge, Salem Food Pantry, Beverly Bootstraps, Plummer Youth Promise, My Brother's Table, Acord Food Pantry, and many more area human service agencies. To date, Root staff and graduates have prepared 70,000+ meals for those in need.

Through Root's Alumni Employment Program, Culinary Training Program graduates continue to receive support after they complete the program. Our team consistently works with graduates to find housing, navigate the job market, complete their HiSET or enroll in college, get their driver's license, and address mental health and life challenges. Additionally, the program offers Root alumni the opportunity for more training and the chance to gain experience working in the Root kitchen. We provide above-minimum wage hourly employment for Root youth alumni producing and delivering the meals for our Community Catering Initiative. Root employs between 8-10 alumni to prepare community catering meals, and provides them with above-minimum wage hourly employment, continuing culinary skill development, and ongoing mentorship and wraparound support services. To date, we are averaging an 83% graduation rate from the program, and 80% are enrolled in school or employed 12 months after graduation.