Soulcial Kitchen, Leadership Council team up to address food insecurity in the military
Soulcial Kitchen in Swansea has a new partner.
Only this time it’s not another food truck or restaurant.
The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois announced this week that it is partnering with the growing food truck park’s Currency of Caring Program.
This new partnership will provide 200 free, hot, restaurant-quality meals for those serving at Scott Air Force Base who may be dealing with food insecurity, according to a March 14 press release.
The Currency of Caring Program is “a simple way of making a tangible difference in someone’s life who may be struggling with food insecurities or other hardships,” according to the Soulcial Kitchen website.
Through this nonprofit program, folks can purchase meal tokens for $8 each. That token is later provided to someone who needs it.
The token can then be exchanged for a meal – entrée, side and drink – at a participating restaurant or food truck, according to the release.
The Leadership Council will provide an initial 200 free meal tokens to leadership at Scott Air Force Base for distribution to service members in need of them.
Their goal is to keep the program going as long as it’s needed, stated the release.
“We have fantastic, supportive community members who provide assistance to our Airmen in many ways, and this is a good example of the partnerships that we have in the Greater Scott Community,” Col. Chris Robinson, 375th Air Mobility Wing and Installation Commander, stated in the release.
“Our Airmen will appreciate this gesture, and we thank the businesses and the private donors who are making this happen.”
Soulcial Kitchen founder John Michel mentioned the partnership to me during a conversation in February.
He said at the time that food insecurity is more common in the military than one might think, which is why this partnership is important.
Through the new partnership, Michel and his wife, Holly Michel, who runs the Currency of Caring Program, will be able to continue the program’s mission, which is to connect and bless people through food.
To date, the program already served more than 4,470 free hot meals, according to the Currency of Caring website.
“Our goal with the Currency of Caring is simple,” stated Michel in the release.
“Make it easy to connect and bless people through great food; so together, we can build stronger, more resilient communities while caring for those who may be struggling. Our hope is this effort to support our precious Airmen and their families in need at Scott Air Force Base will only be the first in Air Mobility Command, and maybe one day, even the entire Department of Defense.”
Tokens for the Currency of Caring Program can be purchased at Marcos Express or any of the food trucks from the Soulcial Kitchen campus, or online at currencyofcaring.com.
Soulcial Kitchen is located at 127 North Belt East in Swansea. For more information, visit soulcialkitchen.com.
This story was originally published March 21, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
