Andalé on Wheels - a 501(c)(3) organization - is a food truck with a mission to deliver hundreds of free, healthy dinners daily to hungry kids in low-income, area neighborhoods. Reza Ghassemi, the founder and co-owner of Andalé Latino Grill, conceived this initiative with the goal of raising $100,000 to convert a school bus into a mobile kitchen and dining room to help eradicate childhood hunger i
n neighborhoods such as North, West and South Philadelphia, as well as other areas of The City of Brotherly Love. "There should never be any child who doesn't know where his or her next meal is coming from," exclaimed Ghassemi, whose wife, Mirna, is his chef/partner. "The children in our community need to have access to healthy, nutritious meals, and we plan on providing that while also assisting in educating them for free. We are determined to help to make a difference for these children who need to enjoy their childhood." Once Ghassemi started sharing his vision with his guests at Andalé, help started pouring in. Recently, Mr. Virjilio Mejia, a guest of the restaurant, donated a school bus. Ghassemi's friends and business associates, Peter and Jason Abrams of Abrams Realty and Development, volunteered to serve on the Board of Directors with generous and immediate contributions and long-term commitment to serving the organization. Ghassemi now plans to convert the bus into Andalé on Wheels beginning with removing all of the three-seater bench seats from one side of the bus. He plans on replacing them with a sizable banquet table, and strategically positioning small tables mounted to the floor of the bus, which will be used for dining. He will then mount a single chair in front of each table, allowing for maximum seating. This will provide enough space to duplicate Andalé Latino Grill's food preparation line on the bus, while including a fresh, healthy drink station behind the driver’s seat. The interior of the bus, which will be heated and air conditioned for year-round use, will be equipped with flat screen televisions airing various educational, kid-friendly programming as well as the national and international news. The exterior of the bus will proudly display Andalé's partners in the endeavor, using their logos and positioning statements. Volunteers will be serving food during each 5 to 8 p.m. “service,” as Ghassemi plans to feed 50 to 60 children in what he refers to as “a dignified manner.” During dinner, there will be several tutors present to help children with their homework, and sponsors will be invited to serve as speakers to give the children a glimpse of how their business operates and to inspire them to study and stay in school. "At the end of the day, if we can provide Philadelphia’s children in need nutritious meals while also educating them, that's really all that matters," said Ghassemi. "We want Andalé on Wheels to be more than just a food truck. We want it to make a difference." In order to make provisions for this venture to be 100% self-reliant for its financial obligations while remaining sustainable well into the future, Andalé on Wheels will sell food at various locations such as Temple University, University City, and high population office centers during lunch hours. The revenue generated by the bus selling lunch will support its annual expenses in absence of a large donor base. Since the venture's mission will be well-publicized on the body of the bus, and the fact that it carries an IRS 501c(3) non-profit accreditation, it is expected that Andalé on Wheels food truck fans may be more likely to migrate towards the bus's location than ordinary quick-serve options. Ghassemi hopes to raise $100,000 to launch this venture by selling (8) side panels of the bus to local businesses at $10,000 apiece, a back panel for $15,000, and the front grill for $5,000. The money raised will be earmarked to fund the interior reconstruction, as well as other operational expenses such as gas, insurance and permits. Andalé on Wheels is expected to have a surplus of $18,260 after one year of the launch. Ghassemi projects the income from food sales to total $152,000 in the first 12 months of service. Andalé Latino Grill's menu features menu items inspired by 21 Spanish speaking countries: burritos, burrito bowls, arepas and empanadas, and side dishes, including sweet plantains, chips with guacamole, green plantains, tortillas chips & Aji sauce, and yuca & chimichurri sauce. Andalé Latino Grill, which opened in July of 2016, offers a variety of Latin American cuisine inside its quick serve shop located in Lower Southampton Village in Feasterville. Andalé is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. A second Andalé location will be opening in Marlton, New Jersey early this fall. Learn more about Andalé on Wheels by visiting http://andaleonwheels.org. Please contact Reza Ghassemi at 443.827.7060 or via email at [email protected] to be a part of this extraordinary yet essential community initiative.
