Community Food Service

An average of 10,000 meals a day are provided to the residents of Bexar County thanks to a collaboration between Dominguez State Jail, Windham School District and the San Antonio Food Bank. A portion of the meals also meet the needs of school children both during the school year and during the summer season.

The collaboration between the entities is celebrating 20 years of success this year. The program consists of six incarcerated apprentices working as cooks and eight incarcerated apprentices working in the warehouse helping move pallets of food and load the trucks that deliver the food.

Participants, who have outside trusty status, learn the functions of running a 210,000 sq. ft. warehouse, including job skills of such as being an order selector, warehouse receiver and distributor. The program goes further in depth by teaching skills such as reading an order, driving forklifts and basic warehouse safety. Not only do participants earn their ServSafe Food Handler and Manager certification, they also earn a United States Department of Labor certificate. This program allows them to gain experience working in food preparation that they would receive in the industry.

“Through this program, apprentices not only fulfill the essential requirements of their apprenticeship, but they also contribute to a vital cause, feeding those in need,” Charlene Moriarty, Windham’s Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training Administrator said. “This hands-on experience mirrors the challenges and rewards they will face in the industry upon reentry to their communities, paving the way for successful potential careers.”

Program participant Benito Esquivel loves being involved with this program as it allows him to not only learn the skills needed to hopefully open his own restaurant in the future, but also assist those in need.

“Helping the kids of the greater San Antonio area is a blessing because it allows me to be able to do something positive for the community while paying my debt to society,” Esquivel said.

It also allows him to unleash his inner artist.

“I like the fact that while working with food, I can get creative at times with some dishes for certain occasions,” he said. “The main thing I love about it though is that cooking food for others and watching the smiles on their faces does a lot for me as well, knowing that I’ve created something from my skills that they’re enjoying.”

Dominguez State Jail Warden Alonzo Hammond sees nothing but a positive outcome from being a part of this program.

“The San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB) is a positive program that assists in reintegrating inmates into society by being involved in community service, obtaining a high trade skill they may use upon release and setting positive goals for themselves by giving back, you can make a difference.”

The biggest beneficiary from this partnership is the San Antonio community. Michael Guerra, Chief Sustainability Officer at the food bank, praised the help they receive, “SAFB’s partnership with TDCJ provides critical support to feeding and nourishing our community. The trusties provide meaningful support to our overall culinary operations and ensure that we can continue meeting the needs of children and families in our community.”

The food preparation the apprentices learn is under the tutelage of Chef Greg Williams who feels a unique connection with those he mentors. His uncle was incarcerated multiple times prior to working in the culinary field.

“Offering trusties the training, education, and certification necessary for gainful employment is a tangible example of our commitment to ‘fighting hunger, feeding hope.’”

This partnership is expected to continue to flourish as former alumni of the program have come to work at the food bank and help the current and future classes of apprentices flourish and grow.