Neighbors are Growing Their Careers at The Storehouse Community Center

An FY24 NTFB Hope for Tomorrow Grant helped support the addition of a staff member to launch the organization’s Work Well Certificate program.

^{Maripily Gonzalez teaches a course during The Storehouse’s Work Well Certificate Program.}

At The Storehouse Community Center, food is the entry point.

Sarah Whitling, Director of Stewardship & Development, says their ultimate vision is that they’ll build relationships with pantry visitors and be able to support them with other transformative programs, including their recently launched Work Well Certificate.

“We have seen that once neighbors are connected with living wage employment, their visits to our food pantry and clothing closet typically taper off over time,” Sarah says.

The Work Well Certificate is a job training initiative that Sarah says was made possible with the support of a $61,498 Hope for Tomorrow Grant from North Texas Food Bank. The funds were used to hire community social worker Maripily Gonzalez. Maripily developed the curriculum for the certificate program and leads cohorts of 15 through classes focused on interview skills, work culture, and resume preparation and creation.

Sarah says that a majority of the neighbors they serve are working, they are simply underemployed. They come to The Storehouse seeking assistance because their paychecks don’t stretch enough to cover their basic needs, including housing, utilities and groceries.

“They often work two or three jobs to make ends meet,” she says. “By providing courses and opportunities that connect them to pathways to living wage employment, we are able to provide financial stability and growth potential that directly increases their food security.” 

The first Work Well Certificate cohort took place in the fall of 2024 and culminated with mock interviews conducted by volunteers from Lennox’s HOLA Hispanic/Latin Employee Resource Group and Lux Ice, a partner employer of The Storehouse.

Participant Ruth Rodriguez said the courses were transformative.

“Through my Work Well training, I gained the tools and confidence I needed to advance my career and changed my outlook on what’s possible for me and my family,” she told The Storehouse.

The Storehouse has been an NTFB partner since 2009 and was one of its first Hope for Tomorrow Grant recipients. Hope for Tomorrow grants fund the growth or formation of programs that target the underlying barriers to food security with holistic support, such as financial coaching, job skills training or health care.

Learn more about NTFB’s grant program here.

^{The Storehouse’s first Work Well Certificate cohort.}