This article originally appeared on the NICOA blog.

NICOA’s Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP) partners with The Salvation Army Red Shield Kitchen to train program participants as cooks and kitchen assistants.

During the process, participants learn the state guidelines for properly handling food, how to properly clean and sanitize, as well as train for food handlers license. The program was recently recognized in an article by Senior News & Living OK.

Check out our interview with former SCSEP participant and current Salvation Army Red Shield Kitchen employee Patricia Harrison. She talks about how NICOA’s SCSEP changed her life. In the next video, former SCSEP participant and current Salvation Army employee John Hairston shares his experience with NICOA’s program.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Diverse Elders Coalition.