Food trucks help out

Editor’s note: This corrects Kelly Merkel’s last name, bakerytruck’s name and Tropical Shave Ice’s name. Also this is the first OC Foodie Fest.

COSTA MESA — At least 300 less-fortunate people got to taste food and dessert on Wednesday served by four trendy food trucks participating in the upcoming OC Foodie Fest in Anaheim.

Taco Dawg, Dos Chinos, bakerytruck and Tropical Shave Ice rolled into Someone Cares Soup Kitchen on 19th Street to serve hot lunches. Honest Tea served the beverages.

“This was created with the desire by the food trucks to go out to the community and feed the people,” said Shannon Santos, the soup kitchen’s executive director. “It’s slightly different from the OC Foodie Fest, and the soup kitchen was selected, and they were able to come together to serve over 300 people. We’re completely amazed.”

The first OC Foodie Fest is Aug. 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The event brings together a variety of food trucks in one place where people can come out, enjoy community entertainment and taste different menu items, said Kelly Merkel, sponsorship and promotions coordinator of OC Foodie.

James Foxall, founder of Taco Dawg, came up with the idea of bringing together food trucks in one place. He wanted to bring awareness to the growing movement of small businesses that are starting up in mobile trucks.

Rick Kukahiko and his wife, EJ, who run Tropical Shave Ice, wanted to provide food for needy people and contacted other trucks to participate in Monday’s event.

“It’s great,” Kukahiko said. “We’re doing the right thing. We’re serving a meal to less-fortunate people. It’s the aloha thing.”

When Curtis Bell heard about the event, he made it a point to drive from Long Beach to have lunch at the soup kitchen.

The 48-year-old said the soup kitchen’s food is always clean and “much better than Long Beach.”

Foxall said he’s looking to make the partnership with the soup kitchen an ongoing event.