Olivia and Rodrigo Madrigal
Olivia Madrigal wants to give something back to the city that has supported her through the years.
As the co-owner of MAD Sandwiches and the organizer of 3rd in The Burg’s Harrisburg Food Truck Feast, Madrigal looked on the masses that flood Midtown Harrisburg those Friday nights and wondered if they could all work together to do something great.
“Any time I’ve ever had the opportunity to give back, I’m overwhelmed by how great it feels,” Madrigal said. “I wanted to magnify that.”
Madrigal came up with the idea to benefit a different Harrisburg-based charity each month during the feast, which takes place at N. 3rd and Harris streets every third Friday of the month through October.
A different organization has been selected for each month, and donation boxes and cash jars will be set out so visitors can make contributions, Madrigal said. While she hasn’t set any goals for how much she wants to collect each month, she knows every little bit helps feed someone who is hungry or clothe someone who has nothing.
“We wish we had enough resources to reach out beyond Harrisburg, but we don’t want to stretch ourselves too thin,” Madrigal said. “Instead, I think we can make a greater impact on the organizations that are doing good work right here.”
She also hopes to give incentives to encourage people to donate, such as coupons to use at the food trucks or random drawings for event tickets. Whatever helps people give, she said, is worth it.
Food trucks that participate in the monthly event also are doing their part to give back. Part of the $60 fee for each participating truck covers advertising, a special events license from the city and the rental of portable toilets. Any money left over after those initial fees will be donated to charity, Madrigal said.
The first charity to benefit during the April feast was the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Brad Peterson, director of communications for the organization, said they usually ask for non-perishable items, such as peanut butter, canned tuna and canned fruits and vegetables. Cereal, pasta, rice and soups also tend to be in high demand, he said.
The impact the food bank has on Dauphin County alone is substantial, Peterson said.
In 2014, Dauphin County residents received 7.4 million pounds of food, or the equivalent of 6.1 million meals, he said. The food bank served about 22,500 households in Dauphin County that same year, he said.
Dauphin County is one of 27 counties the food bank serves and has just a fraction of the 55,000 people who use its services each week.
“The food bank relies on donations to fulfill our mission,” he said. “More than 80 percent of the food we distribute comes from donations, so public support and donations are vital to our work and the people we serve.”
The YWCA of Greater Harrisburg is the charity selected for May, Madrigal said.
The organization provides care to single women and children through its emergency shelter, and it empowers those women through its housing program, clothing and food bank, life skills education and drug and alcohol recovery support groups.
Tina Nixon, chief executive officer of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, said she thought adding a charity element to the feast was a great way to make the event about everyone in the community.
“It’s good that the community is engaged in what we do,” Nixon said. “We see a lot of women come here who want to give back later. There seems to be this constant circle of support in Harrisburg, and I’m so grateful for it.”
The YWCA is often in need of new bath towels, hand towels, pillows and twin sheet sets, Nixon said. They also need umbrellas, underwear and socks. Gift cards for groceries, clothing stores and other items also are accepted.
Many of the women who seek refuge in the emergency shelter arrive with just the clothes on their backs, Nixon said. Anything the shelter can give them—from a toothbrush to a new sweater—is a great comfort, she said.
Madrigal hopes to spread the word about each month’s charity through announcements on NASH FM 106.7, as well as on the event’s Facebook page.
Some people didn’t come to the feast last year, she said, because they felt they didn’t have anywhere to park. She hopes people keep in mind that they can park directly in the lot where the trucks are set up at no additional cost.
For Madrigal, the opportunity to give back is a call she has to answer. She still has a few charities to add to the calendar for the rest of the year, but she knows that any organization they choose will benefit.
“There’s a lot of need in our community,” she said. “We want to give back without seeking anything in return. This city means that much to us.”
Harrisburg Food Truck Feast takes places every third Friday of the month during 3rd in The Burg. The trucks gather in the parking lot at N. 3rd and Harris streets starting at 5 p.m. For more information on the featured food trucks and charities, visit their Facebook page: HBG Food Truck Feast. This month, 3rd in The Burg takes place May 15.
