A Different Kind of Food Truck in Rochester

The issue of food trucks in Rochester was in the news a lot through the spring and summer of 2016. Now, two local churches are turning the idea of a food truck on its head! How? By using it to serve free meals to those in need...

For the past couple years, Zumbro Lutheran Church and People of Hope Lutheran Church have worked together on a mobile food ministry they call 'Open Table.' The ministry serves food to neighborhoods in southeast Rochester. Channel One Regional Food Bank is also involved, providing extras to go with the meal each week. Since they started the ministry, the food has been prepared in the Zumbro Lutheran Church kitchen and then transported to the neighborhoods the program serves. But that's all about to change!

'Open Table' recently took possession of a food truck that will revolutionize the way they are able to serve those in need in our community. Every Thursday, the truck will deliver burritos and cookies to people throughout southeast Rochester. Eventually, the hope is that the menu will be expanded. If enough volunteers could be recruited, perhaps the truck could even get out more than once a week...

During the summer months, the truck will be parked outside Zumbro Lutheran Church and in the winter it will be put in a storage garage. Lisa Kipp, one of the pastors at Zumbro, says that they expect the truck to be up and running in the community in the next couple weeks. The truck needs to pass its inspection with the county health inspector first, and then it will be ready to roll! And while its more likely to hit the road starting November 4, they haven't ruled out the possibility of an October 27 start date just yet...

Eventually, the outside of the truck will be fancied up so that it will be easier to tell what it is. But for now, it's a simple yellow without any descriptive words or images on the outside. Those who benefit from its services will certainly get to know it quickly, even without all the fancy branding.