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INTERNSHIPS FOR UNEMPLOYED WOMEN

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SEREALITIES FOUNDATION
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR UNEMPLOYED AND/OR  UNDEREMPLOYED WOMEN IN NORTHERN INDIANA

Story Landing in Rochester, Indiana, is an event venue hosting an internship program to help unemployed and/or underemployed women to gain additional job skills in the food and hospitality industry as well as skills in work/life balance. 

WHO AND WHERE? Women 18 years and older, eligible to work in the US  and who are unemployed or underemployed in rural northern Indiana.

WHY?
·  THE STATE OF INDIANA has a poverty rate of female-headed families at 43.2%.

·  FULTON COUNTY INDIANA has one of the largest proportions of women married with children and in poverty at 17% and one of the largest proportions of families headed by single mothers and in poverty at 52%.

WHAT WE DO:  Our mission is to enhance job and work/life balance skills and job opportunities through the development of internships in the hospitality industry at Story Landing, for unemployed and underemployed women. Read testimonials from some of our interns below.

DONATIONS cover the cost of staffing/instruction, payments to interns, supplies, training, and exams for certification of ServSafe Food Manager. Donations made to GoFundMe Certified Charity campaigns (valid for US registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations only), are guaranteed to be tax-deductible and will receive tax-deductible receipts automatically from our charity partner, PayPal Giving Fund.

DESCRIPTION OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Story Landing is an event venue in Rochester, Indiana and the location for summer internships. The internship program offers the opportunity for up to 6 interns to study and earn a ServSafe Manager Certificate, (ServSafe National Restaurant Association training and certification in food safety) and to practice safe handling of food. This training encourages interns to be aware of important food safety skills in their own kitchens with their families. To increase their employability, interns have the opportunity to plan, budget and organize events for the community held at Story Landing. Expenses cover paid internships, staffing, books, training, certification exams, and planning public events at the venue. 

 Molly, Kim, Kaitlyn, Susan, and Kimberlie, five unemployed and/or underemployed women of varying ages and backgrounds, completed the internship program in food and hospitality.  Communication and collaboration within this group of women in 2016 resulted in two new ongoing events for the community including yoga classes and painting sessions. 

Testimonials from 2016 Interns 

“Six months prior to the summer internship at Story Landing my position was terminated at my job. This was a job I really enjoyed and took pride in. My self-confidence and pride were wounded. I was excited to "get back to work" even if it was only for 30 days. This experience helped me rebuild my self-worth. I have since continued to grow my small business, Red Horse Leather. During our internship, we developed a positive attitude towards our work and efforts. That has carried over for me taking on shows and events that I would have otherwise been confident to be a vendor in. At those shows, I have either met or exceeded my selling goals for the day! I am excited to apply for a two-day show this spring to have another opportunity to market my products. I have also accepted a position in a local farm office and will start back to work soon. 

I sincerely enjoyed getting to know the other women and watching them develop the same confidence in themselves. I find it interesting to listen to others experiences and how that builds their character. Working as a team we combined our strengths to develop some plans on how to attract the community to enjoy the facility while focusing on food service. Part of our time was devoted to learning and practicing safe food handling. Through the program, I obtained my ServSafe food manager certificate as well as my permit to serve alcohol and have since had the opportunity to work at some events. Though I have always loved food and cooking, I had never previously considered educating myself on safe practices, but definitely, value these certifications and ability to earn extra income. My thanks for offering this "internship" and all the great memories working together to rebuild confidence in myself.”  – Molly

"The internship exceeded my expectations. ServSafe training, cooking, Zen, canoeing, gardening and the boat ride were all highlights. A lot of brain-storming on what would work for our community as far as food service. Classes were held in a beautiful building with a gorgeous view of Lake Manitou. I felt all the women worked well together and the instructor went above and beyond creating a wonderful life-long learning experience.” - Kimberlie

“In the month of July 2016, I participated in a 4-week ServSafe Internship held at Story Landing. I have worked in the food industry in the past as a hostess/bartender/caterer but was never required to attend this particular course. Through this internship, I gained a lot of information, things I never knew or would never have thought about before. It was a great learning experience. I also got to know the other ladies in the class. We had all come from different backgrounds, different age groups, and not knowing much about each other. We all got along well, shared our ideas and bounced suggestions off each other. There are so many possibilities in so many different areas in the food industry. I am now a part time assistant manager in a small grocery store in Rochester. Not only did we complete the ServSafe course, we were involved with several other activities. We learned relaxation techniques, getting involved with the community and hospitality. Story Landing is a beautiful facility on Lake Manitou and perfect for this internship.” – Susan

Please go to Story-Landing.com for more information AND Please spread the word to those who may be interested in supporting our cause. Thank you!

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Organizer

Linda Casebeer
Organizer
Rochester, IN

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