AboutWork Options
Work Options provides more than 109,000 nourishing meals each year to community members facing food insecurity.
Through large-scale meal production in its commercial teaching kitchen, the organization simultaneously delivers culinary and hospitality training and employment services to over 220 individuals annually. By placing food access at the center of its work, Work Options not only meets urgent community needs but also creates pathways to stable employment, restores dignity and purpose for justice–system–impacted participants, and strengthens long-term community resilience.
Our Mission
At Work Options, we nourish communities by using food as a force for good-feeding those facing hunger and training individuals from historically excluded backgrounds to build stable, purpose-driven culinary and hospitality careers.
OurImpact
of Program GRADUATES REMAIN employed 90 DAYS after graduation
individuals obtained employment over the last 27 years
of program graduates stay employed for a year or more
of justice-involved graduates retain employment for 1 year
Creating Equitable Access to Culinary Credentials
with our Award-Winning Pre-Apprenticeship
In 2023, Work Options launched a culinary Pre-Apprenticeship Program designed to create pathways to stackable industry credentials that will help our students earn more and climb the career ladder faster. Work Options also proudly accepted two Apprenticeship awards from the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment’s Office of the Future of Work.
OurHistory
Enacted in 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) emphasized rapid workforce participation as a pathway to self-sufficiency for single mothers. The legislation, however, did not adequately address structural barriers to employment such as access to affordable childcare, transportation, education and skills development, or mental health and trauma-informed support. Consequently, many women entered low-wage, unstable employment that failed to provide sufficient income or long-term economic security.
In response to these challenges, Work Options for Women was founded in 1996 by a chef and a social worker who recognized the need for equitable, employment-focused support that addressed both skill development and personal stability. From its inception, the organization filled critical gaps in service delivery by providing hands-on culinary training paired with wraparound employment support designed to reduce barriers to long-term success. While initially focused on serving women, the organization has always welcomed individuals of all genders. Reflecting this longstanding commitment to inclusion, Work Options for Women rebranded in 2019 and is now known as Work Options.
We nourish communities by using food as a force for good, feeding those facing hunger and training individuals from historically excluded backgrounds to build stable, purpose-driven culinary and hospitality careers.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent food access crisis for Denver’s most vulnerable community members. Work Options recognized that it was uniquely positioned to respond, with trained culinary students, a commercial kitchen, and strong community partnerships already in place. What began as an emergency response quickly evolved into a year-round food access program.
Since 2020, Work Options has invested more than $4.5 million to provide over 460,000 meals to people experiencing food insecurity, including individuals experiencing homelessness, those returning from incarceration, seniors, and immigrant families, while also delivering culinary job training and employment support to more than 1,155 students during that same period.
As communities continue to navigate political instability and economic uncertainty, many individuals and families continue to experience significant economic precarity, and food insecurity has remained persistently high. In response, Work Options formally evolved its mission to reflect the growing and ongoing need for food access alongside workforce development. In 2025, food provision became a core pillar of the organization’s work.
No one is hungry, employment barriers are dismantled, and every individual has the opportunity to heal and thrive.
Today, Work Options provides more than 109,000 nourishing meals each year to community members facing food insecurity. Through large-scale meal production in its commercial teaching kitchen, the organization simultaneously delivers culinary and hospitality training and employment services to over 220 individuals annually. By placing food access at the center of its work, Work Options not only meets urgent community needs but also creates pathways to stable employment, restores dignity and purpose for justice system–impacted participants, and strengthens long-term community resilience.
OurSocial Enterprises
Work Options operates The Helping Hen food truck and The Helping Hen Cafe, located on the Mosaic Community Campus in Denver. Our Pre-Apprenticeship students gain work experience and practice their skills while working at our social enterprises. Visit The Helping Hen Cafe at 1895 Quebec St. for breakfast and lunch Monday – Friday.
We also offer catering! Your next event can make a difference by ordering from Work Options. Fully customizable catering options available. Click the button below to inquire.
