Food truck offers free lunch to bridge Meal Gap
A sky blue food truck named the Angelmobile started a set route of North Brooklyn this summer. Its mission is to do what it can to narrow the meal gap (meals missing from those struggling with food insecurity). Brooklyn has one of the higher food insecurity rates in the state. The start-up funding for the Angelmobile project came from a generous donation from the Episcopal Ministries of Long Island. In addition, Norm and Elaine Brodsky are founding partners in the truck with a sustained donation.
On weekdays from 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m., this mobile soup kitchen will serve free hot meals (one meal per person, with seconds and to-go meals given out after the line has been served) at a set location each day. If there is food left over the Angelmobile moves to McCarren Park to distribute the remainder. In addition to physical nourishment, the food truck’s inside office will offer well being in the form of information. Local organizations that work in the areas of health services, housing, and social justice focus are invited to use the space to pass on their information. On Mondays Council Member Stephen Levin’s North Brooklyn Community Organizer, Ben Solotaire is on the Angelmobile when it visits St Anthony of Padua-St Alphonsus (862 Manhattan Ave.).
The North Brooklyn Coalition of Neighbors Helping Neighbors is behind the creation of this Angelmobile initiative. The idea that “We are a neighborhood filled with people who want to work together to fight hunger, food insecurity, and poverty, [and] direct action by neighbors is an important resource in building an equitable, diverse, neighborhood,” is the inspiration behind this nonprofit organization’s formation.
Thursdays the truck is parked on Jackson Avenue between Kingsland and Debevoise Avenues. Beef gyros (with lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream sauce) were the main course and came with a peach for dessert on August 17th. There was a steady stream of people lined up to get lunch this day and Program Director Felice Kirby said they serve 150 meals daily, which would increase to 200 meals per day the following week.
A sign on the Angelmobile explains its purpose: “Welcome to our community meal. This truck offers food to anyone who is hungry. We aim to encourage community organization, and goodwill. People who wish to volunteer and help serve meals are very welcome.”
You will find the Angelmobile’s meal schedule here: www.northbrooklynangels.org/angelmobile-meals. If you would like to volunteer sign up here: www.northbrooklynangels.org/volunteer
The Greenline 