Community Kitchen Graduate Profile: Maura O'Hara

Maura O'Hara has been working at Laurelmead for more than three years thanks to her Community Kitchen training.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s Community Kitchen program is a life-changing opportunity whose goal is to secure employment in the food service industry for its graduates. At the end of the 14-week training, students leave the program equipped with valuable employment skills and the renewed confidence necessary to succeed. Thanks to Community Kitchen, Maura O’Hara not only found success, but a job that she loves.

Maura O’Hara graduated from Community Kitchen in July of 2005. A mother of three, she had previously worked in a fast food restaurant and had been looking to gain the skills and experience necessary to advance her career. This desire to improve her culinary skills led her to Community Kitchen.

After graduation, Maura went on a number of job interviews before finding what she was looking for – a full-time position as a salad and dessert cook at Laurelmead, a retirement community on the East Side of Providence. More than 3 years later, Maura is still with Laurelmead, having been promoted to Sauté Cook thanks to her strong work performance.

“When I started, I was making $9.50 an hour, with benefits, and it immediately started to make a huge difference in my life,” stated Maura. “I am now making more than $13 an hour, have been promoted, and love what I am doing. Community Kitchen changed my life; it allowed me to believe in myself again. It gave me back my stability and led to a better life for my family.”

Thrilled with her job, Maura has also left a lasting impression with Laurelmead’s Executive Chef, Jim Reynolds. “I am very happy with her work performance. Maura’s got it!”

Thanks to Community Kitchen, and her desire to succeed, Maura and her family are in a better position than they were just three years ago. “My life, overall, is just better,” added Maura. “Community Kitchen gave me a lot more than just kitchen skills; it gave me life lessons for the workplace. I truly love my job.”