*** Woodgate-Sponsored Food Trucks Provide Meals Following Tornadoes in Indianhead Acres, Providence and Greater Bond Neighborhoods ***
A group of Woodgate friends decided to provide support to the Indianhead Acres/Leigh neighborhood after they were terribly thrashed by tornadoes last month. Food trucks were also sponsored for the Providence and Greater Bond Neighborhoods
With the help of Sherri Taylor and Mario Taylor, the Betton Hills food truck expert, we sponsored the “Taste of Heaven BBQ” food truck to provide a free hot lunch of chicken, or pulled pork, or a burger to Indianhead residents. We were amazed at their spirit and gratitude as they waited in the pouring rain for a hot meal. Suzanne Rita Byrnes stood under her umbrella greeting each participant with a smile.
Initially, we planned on serving 55 meals. Seeing the soaked people waiting in line, Noreen Beattie asked Freda, the food truck owner, to continue providing meals until the food ran out. A total of 84 meals were served; seven people were turned away, sadly, when the food ran out.
The Betton Hills Neighborhood Association was inspired by our idea and decided to provide meals to two additional sites. Woodgate was invited to participate with them. The Providence neighborhood received a dinner food truck. Betton Hills added much needed cold bottled water. Representing Woodgate, Suzanne Rita Byrnes and Noreen Beattie attended. The food truck at the Greater Bond neighborhood provided a Friday lunch. Representing Woodgate wwere Lesley Mendelson and Noreen Beattie.
Woodgate friends raised $500 within two hours of floating the food truck idea for Indianhead/Leigh. As fund raising progressed, a total of $855 was raised. The total cost for the 84 meals was $790.00. Noreen forwarded the remaining $65 to support the upcoming program in the Providence neighborhood. Chris Inger wrote a request for funds to support the food truck effort on the Woodgate Neighborhood Facebook Page and raised $1,270. In addition, Indianhead/Leigh neighborhoods contributed $500.00 to the Providence Food Truck.
Woodgate purchased 180 cookies at Sam's with donation money. Laura Cook, Kelly Logan, and Noreen Beattie bagged the cookies for distribution at the Greater Bond lunch.
Eleanor Sheppard and Karen Russell designed and created “Friends in Woodgate” signs for display at the foot truck events.
Our generous neighbors provided the Indianhead neighborhood with 84 meals, the Providence neighborhood with 167 dinners and the Greater Bond neighborhood with 181 lunches; a total of 432 meals.
Following the three events, there was $3,065 in unspent combined donations from Betton Hills and Woodgate. After researching various options, the balance was donated to Good News Outreach. A major component of the program is to provide meals to isolated, needy people and the elderly.
By Noreen Beattie