Savannah program trains homeless for food service

SAVANNAH - An accomplished chef has joined the Bread and Butter Cafe in Savannah -- a program to train homeless people for jobs in food service. <br> <br> Robert Hanne has 26 years&#39; experience as a chef. The New York City native graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. He started his career at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta and later worked in kitchens including the Holiday Inn Beach Resort at Jekyll Island and Pine Forest Country Club in Jesup. <br> <br> He started at the cafe July 8, trading in six- and seven-day weeks of 12- to 14-hour days for a chance to teach homeless people how to prepare a gourmet meal. <br> <br> The teaching-working cafe is a community kitchen. It is run by America&#39;s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Union Mission Incorporated and Savannah Technical College. <br> <br> Expansion plans include adding breakfast early next year and expanding the cafe&#39;s catering program. Right now, only lunch is served. <br> <br> So far, 97 students have graduated from the cafe&#39;s program. Of those, 58 had jobs when they graduated. Forty-nine of those remain employed. <br> <br> The training program started as a pilot project with seven students in May 2000.