ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WLVT) - A local restaurant and nonprofit are working to give free food to kids during the global pandemic.
The Caring Place, along with the Taste of Soul Restaurant, brings its food truck to neighborhoods like Cumberland Gardens every Monday and Wednesday. Co-owner, Mary Ellen Griffin, said it’s important to come to neighborhoods because sometimes it’s difficult for families to go out and get food.
The meals are cooked and free to kids. “We partner with Whole Foods and we try our best not to give any processed foods,” said Griffin. “We cook everything as if you were at your grandmother’s house.”
Many of the vegetables come from the Taste of Soul garden and are hand-picked for kids. “I appreciate that they’re always here for the kids and it’s good to have them and it’s a blessing,” said Allentown resident, Evelyn Gonzalez-Ruiz. “Many of us, sometimes, we don’t have to give our kids something good to eat at home.”
Griffin said it’s important for them to provide healthy meals. “During this time, because the kids are home, they tend to gravitate towards snacks and candy,” said Griffin. “It’s important to, at least, grab a meal that they can microwave very easily and that will have all the components in it.”
Taste of Soul does a food bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays outside the restaurant at 931 W. Hamilton St. Griffin said since the pandemic began, they have been giving out nearly 200 meals per day.
If you want to donate to help them keep feeding children, you can click here to visit The Caring Place website.
