The J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation hosted a grand opening for the Capable Creations food truck on Thursday, September 17. All three Muskingum County Commissioners, Melissa Bell, Drake Prouty, and Cindy Cameron, attended, along with Straker Foundation staff and members of the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC) team.
The food truck was made possible because of a $100,000 grant through the J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation.
Students in the MVESC Adult Success Program operate the Capable Creations food truck, which offers a selection of healthier meal options, including a Berry Bliss Smoothie, Peanut Butter Power Smoothie, and Tropical Green Fusion Smoothie, or yogurt bowls topped with fruit and granola in the same three flavors. Additional offerings are paninis (grilled cheese, ham and cheese, or Italian) and a variety of coffee drinks, including seasonal offerings: pumpkin spice for fall, peppermint mocha for winter, and raspberry white chocolate for spring. Loaded teas and other beverages are also on the menu.
Christopher Robinson-Miller was part of the five-person crew who served customers during the grand opening. He was excited for the grand opening and mentioned that some of his favorite menu items are the grilled cheese panini and peanut butter smoothie.
The implementation of the food truck goes far beyond serving good food to the community; it is providing valuable work experience and real-world skills for the students involved. Additionally, the food truck sets a strong example of how individuals with disabilities are capable of contributing to the workforce in a meaningful way. The slogan on the back of the staff shirts for Capable Creations says it best: Food with purpose, opportunities for all.
“I just had the idea one day. I thought it would be really cool for our students to be able to do that. To show them and the community that students with disabilities are able to work just like everybody else. So we put together a little proposal. The Straker Foundation was very generous enough to give us all the money to get it up and running,” explained Kate Kimble, the director of student services with MVESC.
Already, a few upcoming scheduled stops are planned for the food truck, and the staff is hoping to add more to their calendar. You can reserve the Capable Creations food truck for a daytime event by sending an email to jessica.hill@mvesc.org.
