Chefs, start your engines.
The Westerville Area Resource Ministry is hosting the Great Westerville Food Truck Fest at the Nationwide Children’s Close to Home Surgery Center Sunday, Sept. 15 from noon until 7 p.m. The festival will feature 20 different food trucks, live music, activities like face painting and other performances.
W.A.R.M. is a Westerville-based food pantry and charity organization with a mission of offering a “hand-up, not a hand-out” to families in need.
The festival will host several independent and chain food trucks. Gigi’s Cupcakes will be in attendance, as well as the White Castle Crave Mobile, Burgers and Red Plate Blue Plate, which features southern coastal cuisine like shrimp and grits and watermelon salad. Pizza Mike, a Westerville food truck featuring pizza and pasta, will be rolling through as well.
Performing at the festival will be the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, AmeriCheer and the Lorax Interactive Puppet Show. Live music will be provided by Avalon Nine — a Columbus-based group who covers many folk, rock and pop songs — and No Outlet, an alternative rock group. Other music will be provided by singer-songwriter, Eric Gnezda.
Cheryl Wooten, manager of Development and Communications for W.A.R.M., says that W.A.R.M. is taking a “three-pronged approach” to this program. She said that they plan to promote awareness on poverty issues by offering a unique event that offers all types of food. “It’s the time to come together to experience the mission at W.A.R.M., lifting people up,” Wooten said. “There will be something for all ages”.
Kristi Robbins, chief of staff at Otterbein, says that many Otterbein faculty and students will be volunteering in the event. Melissa Gilbert, the director of the Center for Community Engagement, will be attending and organizing student volunteers. Willie Gilbert, the director of Instructional Support Services will also be attending. Otterbein’s president, Dr. Kathy Krendl, is part of the board at W.A.R.M. and may also be attending the event.
