More than a food truck: Kyle Shields' initiatve to feed the hungry

Human Sciences major Kyle Shields offers his food truck as a mobile destination for community outreach.

Senior Human Sciences major Kyle Shields has created a unique opportunity to serve the community: a charity food truck. Kyle's food truck distributes meals to anyone in need of a hot meal.

In February of 2016, Kyle and his friends noticed a need to feed the homeless in the Lubbock community. Alongside friends Michael Erwin, Michael Seymour, and Cesar Hernandez, the idea for the Lubbock Street Gourmet food truck was born.

Kyle says that the Lubbock Street Gourmet food truck offers anyone in need a free meal. The group takes the connection with those they serve to social further by providing information about welfare groups, veteran's organizations, and mental health professionals.

"Our mission is to end hunger. If we can change even a few lives in the process, I'll take it."

In the beginning, Kyle says the initiative started by reaching out to those in need, one meal at a time. He quickly realized there was much more to be done, and building relationships with the lives they touched made all the difference.

"It started out with us just wanting to make a difference in the community by feeding the homeless. It was as simple as providing a meal for a person who needed one. Developing a relationship is the first step in being able to provide the best assistance. What better way to start a relationship than over a meal?"

Kyle says his food truck has touched his own life through the service they have been able to offer the homeless.

"One time, The Lubbock Avalanche Journal featured a story on the front page about our collaboration with Monterey High School. It was special because I remember showing my mom that paper and the look she gave me will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Kyle credits much of the food truck's success to those who have been willing to lend a hand, since the beginning.

"I have to give a huge 'thank you' to the community of Lubbock for believing in us and helping four guys in a food truck feed the homeless. Anyone who has ever donated anything to us or bought anything from us really is a key player to me."

After graduation this May, Kyle says he hopes to start a career in sales. However, Kyle hopes to use his education and experience to push Lubbock Street Gourmet forward in his future career.

"I'm creating a student organization that will work with Lubbock Street Gourmet. It will give students an opportunity to help the needy and serve the community long into the future."

Kyle says his undergraduate concentrations in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management, Personal Financial Planning, and Organizational Management have had a large role in his personal endeavors.

"My education in the College of Human Sciences has given me the knowledge and skills necessary to make Lubbock Street Gourmet possible. What I have learned is not as vital or valuable as who I learned it from. The faculty and staff have been supportive of my community outreach from the beginning. They continue to support me and my efforts to not only improve my life, but also the lives of others. Their support has truly made a positive difference in my life. It is their positive outlook and resilience that has shaped me into the person I am today."