Westchester’s first nonprofit food truck will be hitting the road this summer, making stops at community centers, senior centers and shelters in White Plains and Greenburg to offer free, freshly prepared meals to low-income, food-insecure families. Nourish Food Truck is on a mission to serve nutritious, plant-based meals at no cost to underserved communities. Unlike mobile food pantries, the truck is like a café on wheels that supports local farmers, functions as a platform for rising young chefs, educates the public and reduces food waste. Patrons will also receive cooking demos, recipe cards and educational handouts.

“We believe many people want to eat better but are strapped for money and time,” says project manager Tracy Basile. “What's more, those who are food insecure often feel stigmatized about frequenting food pantries. But healthy food should be a right for all and not a source of embarrassment.”

The truck’s owner, Brianne Braithwaite, got the idea while studying for her degree in nutrition from the University of New Haven. She brought her concept to the newly formed Westchester Food Justice Collective, which was seeking a place to establish a nonprofit café. Nada Khader, executive director of WESPAC, the lead organization in the collective, sees the nonprofit work of the mobile community café as “a transformative shift toward more equitable communities where there is less hunger and greater social justice.”

To learn more about Nourish Food Truck or to learn how you can help, contact Nada Khader at 914.449.6514.