I’ve been driving past the Hometown Heroes food truck all week while it was stationed at the Phelps Fire Department.
It raises money for fire departments and other volunteer organizations, and the whole operation leans heavily into its firehouse theme.
A mobile concession stand, where a department can host the truck, and a portion of each sale goes back to them.
The prices were a little high, but that was expected and only made me curious how it worked.
The sign said up to 20% of sales and tips go to the host station. The server told me all tips go directly to the department. Maybe years of quotes and contracts have conditioned me to notice phrases like “up to.”
The support was there regardless. People were lining up even on the cold and wet days.
I kept turning that over.
Most fundraisers I pass, I’m not much help to.
The annual boot drive always catches me at ten and two with the windows up and no cash on me. Despite all the signs they put up the week beforehand.
The chicken BBQ was a go-to once, but it usually ends with us picking at our containers and throwing most of it out. So we don’t get it often.
This one asked me to do something I needed to do anyway.
Decide what’s for dinner.
The theme had my attention. The first time I passed it, I thought, “Oh, now that’s cool.” A few days later I caught the smell and got hungry for whatever they were selling.
Before the week was over, I wanted to stop.
We got the Over the House pizza, a Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza, and the Hero sub, along with garlic knots and Firehouse breadsticks. By the end of the evening, there were only a few breadsticks left to put away.
The fire department got a portion of the sale and the tip. My family got a good meal. Every conversation overheard echoed our sentiments.
Most fundraisers ask people to make an extra decision. This one folded support into a decision I was already going to make.
Whoever built this model, I hope other groups borrow it.
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