Menu for Success
Rhode Island students to design, operate food trucks through RIDE’s $1.875 million initiative
For an investment of just over $1.875 million from the School Building Authority Capital Fund, RIDE has provided 15 school districts with food trucks and associated supports. The Menu for Success initiative will benefit communities at large by providing internship and job opportunities, concessions at games and work sites, presence at community events, fundraising and community service opportunities and more. Participating districts include Central Falls, Chariho, Cranston, Coventry, Davies Career & Technical High School, East Providence, Exeter-West Greenwich, Lincoln, the MET, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, Westerly, and Woonsocket.
Appetite for Equity
Rhode Island's food industry is on the move! While Rhode Island’s food sector accounts for tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in sales annually, Rhode Island lags far behind in creating opportunities for people of color to own and operate restaurants. Only 2% of Rhode Island’s 14,000 restaurants are owned by people of color. Through industry exposure, RIDE’s Menu for Success initiative aims to open doors for students of color and increase the number of students who graduate with a defined plan for continued success.
Students from Providence Career and Technical Academy’s culinary program beam with pride in front of their brand new “Good Eats & Treats” food truck.
"We've learned a lot about creating a menu, developing a business, and preparing food safely. I think this will definitely help me in the future when I open a business," student Aylin (right) shared. She joined student Maribel (left) to discuss their experience participating in Food Truck Entrepreneurship and Farm to Food Truck, two courses offered to students statewide through RIDE's All Course Network (RIDE).
'Taste of Central Falls' and 'the Mane Event' student-operated food truck ribbon cutting on August 3, 2023.
Commissioner Infante-Green speaks to guests at the Menu for Success Student Food Truck Ribbon Cutting on August 3, 2023.
Central Falls Superintendent Dr. Downey Toledo speaks to guests on August 3, 2023.
Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green, and Deputy Commissioner Lisa Odom-Villella join students proud to debut 'Taste of Central Falls' student-operated food truck.
The Mane Event
The competition is on! Pawtucket School Department poses with the Commissioner's Belt: Tiffany Reaves, Career & Work-Based Learning Liaison, Ricardo Pimental, Director of Career & Technical Education and Unified Arts, Andrew Lagace, Communications and PR Liaison.
Student Maribel takes order. On today's 'Taste of Central Falls' menu: the Classic: Buttery Texas toast with gooey American cheese; the Peppa Pig: the Classic with tender BBQ pulled pork; the CBT: the Classic with thick-cut, double-smoked bacon and sliced plum tomatoes; the Sicilian: Buttery Texas toast with mozzarella, plum tomatoes, fresh basil and crispy pepperoni; the Portugal: the Classic with flavorful chouriço; Gimme S'more: Texas toast with melted Hershey's chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker crumbs; fresh lemonade
Menu for Success invites high school students to build their own business
It's on! Lincoln and Central Falls have a friendly wager going for the Rhode Island Student Food Truck Roundup in May. Which school will take home the Governor's Cup and Commissioner's Belt? (RIDE)
Pictured left to right: RI Governor Deputy Chief of Staff Joseph Almond, Family and Computer Science teacher Amanda Migneault, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Lincoln Superintendent Dr. Larry Filippelli, students Jayson Roy and Spencer Evans, Family and Computer Science teacher Frank DeCaro, Principal Rob Mezzanotte.
RIDE Deputy Commissioner Lisa Odom-Villella joins Woonsocket city, district and school leadership and students from the Woonsocket Area Career and Tech Center.
Students from Davies Career and Technical High School Hospitality Career program celebrate the school being awarded funding for a food truck through RIDE's Menu For Success initiative. Joining them is Commissioner Infante-Green and RIDE Chief Operating Officer Mario Carreño.
Area Career and Technical Center SkillsUSA students join Commissioner Infante-Green, WACTC Director Timothy Kane, Assistant Superintendent Bill McCaffrey, Superintendent Lynn Dambruch and WACTC Department Head Gene Kelly for a photo celebrating the Menu for Success opportunity.
It’s official! Students from Shea High School, along with state, city, and school officials cut the ribbon on their new Get RIght food truck in December 2023 as part of RIDE’s Menu for Success Food Truck initiative.
Get ready for a Townie Tailgate! East Providence High School’s culinary program recently received their food truck.
Westerly High School’s “Highland Grille” food trailer, part of RIDE’s Menu for Success Food Truck initiative, is up and running.
Hungry for more?
- Read press release for August '23 ribbon cutting
- Read press release detailing initiative goals and school testimonials
In the News
Menu for Success is serving up a lot of interest! Take a bite of the coverage online:
- NEW! PCTA gets new food truck for culinary program (WPRI)
- Shea cuts the ribbon on new "Get Right" food truck (They Valley Breeze)
- New food truck offers hands-on learning for students at Shea High School (WJAR)
- Westerly High culinary food trailer almost ready to roll out (The Westerly Sun)
- Grant-funded food truck, 'Oaker Eats,' arrives at Coventry High School (RICentral)
- East Providence students are likely to have their own food truck (East Bay RI)
- Lincoln students are getting a food truck (The Valley Breeze)
- Cranston Area Career and Technical Center to participate in Menu For Success Student Food Truck Initiative (Cranston Herald)
- Menu for Success: Industry Partner Support (RIDE)
- RIDE: Student Food Truck Initiative (My Backyard News)
- 13 school systems to receive food trucks via RIDE’s new ‘Menu for Success’ program (Providence Business News)
- RIDE's Food Truck Initiative Promotes Real World Experience (PVD Monthly)
- Lincoln High School gets food truck for student, staff to operate (WJAR)
- Lincoln High School introduces food truck for culinary students (ABC6)
- Lincoln High School gets first food truck in new culinary program for students (Rhode Island Current)
- Rhode Island school launches food truck for student chefs (FoodTruckOperator)
- How this superintendent is fueling multidisciplinary learning with a food truck (District Administration)
- Taste of Central Falls' teaser video (RIDE)
- Riding food trucks to culinary awareness (Motif Magazine)
Local Education Agency |
Contact Information |
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Central Falls High School A Taste of Central Falls |
Central Falls High School Career and Technical Education Contact info here |
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CharihoTECH Creative Tastes Cafe |
CharihoTECH Contact info here |
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Coventry High School Oaker Eats |
Oaker Eats Lori Ferguson, Director fergusonlori[at]coventryschools.net |
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Cranston Area Career and Technical Center Food Truck |
Cranston Area Career and Technical Center Contact info here |
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Davies Career and Technical High School Davies' Patriots Plates |
Davies Career and Technical High School Contact info here |
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East Providence High School Townie Tailgate |
Contact to come |
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Exeter-West Greenwich High School Food Truck |
Trucks still in production - check back later! |
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Lincoln High School The Mane Event |
Ken Hopkins Principal hopkinsk[at]lincolnps.org |
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Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (the MET) Food Truck |
Trucks still in production - check back later! |
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Newport Area Career and Technical Center Food Truck |
Contact to come |
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Pawtucket - Shea High School Get RIght |
Ricardo Pimental Director of Career & Technical Education and Unified Arts pimentalr[at]psdri.net |
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Providence Career and Technical Academy Good Eats and Treats |
Contact information here |
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Warwick Area Career and Technical Center Tides on the Rhode |
Austin J. Irons, M.Ed Culinary Arts Instructor (401)-734-3161 Call during school hours |
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Westerly High School The Highland Grille |
Chef Jamie Finkelstein and Chef Zach Zarkowski jfinkelstein[at]westerly.k12.ri.us (401)-315-1587 |
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Woonsocket High School The Culinary Caravan |
Contact to come |