Culinary Arts and Garden Program at Ted’s Place
In January 2025, with the support of United Way Greater Los Angeles, First Day launched our Culinary Arts Resource Education (C.A.R.E.) program in Whittier in partnership with Kitchen To Go. This initiative offers hands-on culinary training and workforce development for individuals experiencing homelessness, equipping participants with essential culinary skills, ServSafe certification, and job placement support in the food service industry. The program is based at Ted’s Place, our Whittier site and the original home of First Day, which now serves as the hub for many of our clinical and workforce development services. At Ted’s Place, participants train in our newly renovated commercial kitchen, preparing meals for First Day’s interim housing sites and gaining valuable real-world experience in food preparation and service.
An integral component of the program is the involvement of an onsite Employment Specialist, who works closely with participants and local small businesses to create a direct pipeline to employment. This collaboration not only supports clients in achieving stable income but also helps address the ongoing shortage of trained culinary professionals in the region—an issue that has persisted due to industry-wide staffing challenges and increased demand for qualified kitchen workers.
The C.A.R.E. program also integrates access to First Day’s therapeutic community garden, located onsite at Ted’s Place. This garden, developed in collaboration with Whittier Area Community Church (WACC) and maintained by residents and staff, provides a restorative outdoor space that fosters healing, recovery, and wellness. Fresh vegetables and herbs grown in the garden are used directly in the C.A.R.E. kitchen, promoting healthy eating and food sustainability while supporting participants’ physical and mental health. Together, the kitchen and garden create a holistic environment for personal growth, job readiness, and long-term self-sufficiency—core values that align with our harm reduction and Housing First approach.