JULIUS SEARIGHT, founder and director of Food4Good, Providence’s first mobile soup kitchen, has received the inaugural Food Impact Award from Social Enterprise Greenhouse. The award is given to someone who is using food as a tool to impact the community in a positive way.
How does Food4Good work?
When people buy food from our food truck, we use the profits to help provide meals to people in need here in Providence. Our work is also supported by grants, donations and donated food. We encourage local businesses to sponsor a mobile soup kitchen night. We operate our mobile soup kitchen at four different locations in Providence. Many weeks, we are averaging about 400 meals given, and we are providing people with one of the healthiest meals that they will eat all week.
How did you initially get the idea to open a mobile soup kitchen?
I came up with the idea when I was volunteering at Crossroads Rhode Island. I wanted to create a food truck that makes an impact on food insecurity and allows people to give back to those in need. When buying food at our food truck, they are doing just that.
In what ways did your experiences growing up in foster care lead you to want to work with nonprofit organizations?
I could imagine what it was like for my biological mother to provide for us. That helped me to understand the need. This led me to create a nonprofit to help others who may be struggling to put food on the table for various reasons.
Why is giving back to the community important to you?
Giving back to your community is very important because it’s an investment in the community. We encourage all members of our community to give back in some way. •
