Published February 27, 2021 at 1:33pm.
Story by Dallas Doing Good Editorial Team. Photos courtesy of Ruthie’s Food Trucks.
Taking advantage of a break in the rain on Friday afternoon, Ruthie’s Food Trucks fed 150 staff members and families at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC). Known throughout Dallas for their famous grilled cheese sandwiches, Ruthie’s also has a reputation for giving back to support their local community. So when the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks Foundation wanted to feed people in on the frontlines, they knew they could count on the Ruthie’s team.
“Having the support of the community is always welcome, especially as our teams are on the frontlines of child abuse and see the unspeakable and unthinkable happening to children in Dallas County,” says Sarah Burns, Chief Marketing Officer at DCAC. “Each day our staff and partners leave their own families to respond to another family’s crisis. We are so grateful to the Dallas Mavericks Foundation, the Boston Celtics and Ruthie’s for serving about 150 of our families, staff and partners that are co-located in our building – DPD’s Child Abuse Unit and DFPS’s Special Investigative Units. This thoughtful collaboration not only filled our tummies but also our hearts!”
For almost a year now, Ruthie’s has made it their mission to feed our frontline heroes during the pandemic. They have distributed over 6,000 meals to local hospital and medical workers, first responders, homeless shelters, senior centers, nonprofits, and more. But even before COVID-19, Ruthie’s has always looked for practical ways to give back, showing up for furloughed federal workers in early 2019, and partnering with social good organizations, like Cafe Momentum, as a certified B Corporation.
“We are overwhelmed by outpouring of generous donors who are friends and fans of Ruthie’s that have wanted to help serve our community during this time. To be able to be part of helping others that are struggling has been a true blessing,” says Ashlee Kleinert, owner of Ruthie’s Food Trucks.
This year will mark ten years of gooey grilled cheese from the Ruthie’s trucks, and the team is now looking forward to their first brick and mortar shop, Ruthie’s Fueled by Café Momentum, which will open later this year. The location is planned for Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard near St. Phillips School and Community Center, another local nonprofit partner.
The culture of social good runs deep through the Ruthie’s team, attracting employees who are looking for a job with purpose. Maya B., one of Ruthie’s first hires from the Café Momentum externship program says, “I love doing events like this because it allows me to give back to my community.”
To learn more about how Ruthie’s is giving back and for more updates on the new sandwich shop, make sure to follow them on social media!
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