In late September, members of the Appleton Area School District took to social media to ask for donations for nearly 300 homeless students.
A study from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that student homelessness in the state has reached a new high, increasing to 20,195 for the 2023-2024 school year. Several vendors in the Fox Valley area heard about the need for donations in the district and wanted to do their part.
“Members of the Fork Yeah Food Truck community saw a post that AASD urgently needed donations and almost immediately our group was buzzing with ideas about how we could help,” said Tricia Hermsen, owner of Tria's Frog Treats.
Fork Yeah – Fox Valley is an organization of local food trucks and vendors, created to bring more visibility to local food options.
The Hunger Task Force Food Truck Night Fundraiser will last October 28 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Area 509 parking lot in Appleton.
“Our food truck community thrives on supporting the communities we serve, and it was shocking to hear that nearly 300 students are experiencing homelessness,” Hermsen said. “We knew we had to come together to make a difference.”
More than 12 local food trucks will gather at 1025 N. Badger Ave., including Caribbean Taste, Hot Biddy's, Bowlicious, Busted Spud, Tria Frog Treats and The Wandering Table.
“Some trucks will be selling their delicious goods on site, while others have pledged direct donations,” Hermsen said. “It is truly an honor and privilege to be part of such a compassionate and giving community.”
A portion of all vendor sales go directly to AASD, in addition to any specific donations.
Visit Area 509's Facebook page for more information.
Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or [email protected]. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Fork Yeah Fox Valley hosts fundraiser for homeless Appleton students
