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Fayetteville nonprofit launches mobile food trailer to train men rebuilding their lives in culinary arts

By Stephanie Meador, posted 1 month ago
Photo provided by Operation Inasmuch

Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch (Inasmuch) has announced the launch of Inasmuch on the Go, a mobile food trailer scheduled to begin serving Cumberland County and surrounding communities in September 2026. The initiative will bring freshly prepared meals directly to underserved areas while providing hands-on culinary job training and career pathways for men rebuilding their lives after homelessness and poverty.

Inasmuch currently serves more than 120 sit-down meals each weekday morning at its downtown Fayetteville campus. Through Inasmuch on the Go, the organization will expand its reach beyond its walls.

Inasmuch purchased the food trailer from another local nonprofit, Miller’s Crew, where it was previously used to help further their mission to train and employ people with special abilities. Participants in Inasmuch's Living Hope Program will work alongside trained staff to gain experience in culinary arts, customer service, food safety and small-business operations. 

“Inasmuch exists to be the hands and feet of Jesus among the broken, hurting and homeless,” said Executive Director of Inasmuch Craig Morrison in a press release. “Inasmuch on the Go puts that mission in motion. Every plate we serve is an act of care, and every participant we train is a life being rebuilt.”

Working on the trailer will also allow the men in the Living Hope Program to earn wages and put that toward their savings goal, which is another aspect of the program. 

“We’re not just giving you a handout; we’re giving you a hand up, right? And so this is an opportunity for guys to say, ‘Yeah, I want to work, and I want to make a difference,’ and we want to respect and give them a salary for that,” added Morrison.

Chef James Belton III and Chef Dee will assist with the vocational training. Meal preparation will take place in Inasmuch's commercial commissary kitchen.

Program participants who complete the training will receive industry-recognized culinary certifications and documented work experience designed to help them pursue employment opportunities in the food service industry. The organization estimates the initiative could provide up to 30,000 meals annually while training between 30 and 60 participants each year.

The trailer's menu will feature sweet and savory stuffed waffles and additional offerings currently under development. Each item will be prepared with the support of participants gaining practical culinary experience and workplace skills.

Inasmuch on the Go will be available for community events, business lunches and outreach opportunities throughout the Fayetteville area. The organization is also seeking the donation of a tow vehicle to support the trailer's operations and expand its ability to serve communities across the county.

For more information about Inasmuch on the Go, to book the trailer or to learn how to support the initiative, contact Pastor Craig Morrison at 910-433-2161 or visit www.inasmuchonthego.com.

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