Katrina — Rediscovering Her Passion

Katrina grew up the youngest of four children in a close-knit family. “They saved the best for last,” she laughs. Cooking was woven into her earliest memories, with her father being a chef. “His love of cooking always stuck with me.”

After high school, Katrina pursued culinary training and spent more than a decade working in professional kitchens — until her life shifted. “My mother became ill,” she explains. “I quit my job to be her full-time caregiver.” After her mother passed away, Katrina was left navigating grief while raising three children.

“My mother’s passing triggered a deep depression,” Katrina says. “I needed support, so I sought therapy.” Through that program, Katrina learned about iCater, Pine Street Inn’s culinary job training program.

“I was just looking for structure and a way to support my family, but I ended up rediscovering my passion,” Katrina says. “The instructors teach us about food safety, kitchen etiquette and life skills that prepare us for the future. I even learned how to use email — I used to make my kids do it for me!”

But perhaps the most unexpected gift Katrina found was community. “We’re like a family,” she says of her fellow trainees. “I wake up every day excited to see them.”

At home, Katrina brings her lessons back to her children — experimenting with new recipes and healthier meals. “Instead of buying juice boxes, I make fresh carrot and mango juice,” she shares.

Looking ahead, Katrina hopes to find steady work that allows her to support her children. “This program gave me more than I ever dreamed possible,” she smiles. “It finally feels like I’m moving forward.”