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.

PCTA Food Truck students

Students from Providence Career and Technical Academy’s culinary program beam with pride in front of their brand new “Good Eats & Treats” food truck. 

Students at podium

"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).

Ribbon Cutting

'Taste of Central Falls' and 'the Mane Event' student-operated food truck ribbon cutting on August 3, 2023.

Commissioner Infante-Green at podium

Commissioner Infante-Green speaks to guests at the Menu for Success Student Food Truck Ribbon Cutting on August 3, 2023. 

Superintendent Downey Toledo

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.' (RIDE)

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.

Lincoln's The Mane Event

The Mane Event

Pawtucket Food Truck

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 takes order out of food truck

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

Food Truck Initiative News Clipping

Menu for Success invites high school students to build their own business

Lincoln and Central Falls Superintendents hold Governor's Cup with Commissioner Infante-Green

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 Comput

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pawtucket Food Truck

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. 

EPHS Food Truck

Get ready for a Townie Tailgate! East Providence High School’s culinary program recently received their food truck.

Westerly_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?

In the News

Menu for Success is serving up a lot of interest! Take a bite of the coverage online:

Local Education Agency
Contact Information

Central Falls High School

A Taste of Central Falls

Central Falls High School Career and Technical Education

Contact info here

CharihoTECH

Creative Tastes Cafe

CharihoTECH

Contact info here

Coventry High School

Oaker Eats

Oaker Eats

Lori Ferguson, Director

fergusonlori[at]coventryschools.net

Cranston Area Career and Technical Center

Food Truck

Cranston Area Career and Technical Center

Contact info here

Davies Career and Technical High School

Davies' Patriots Plates

Davies Career and Technical High School

Contact info here

East Providence High School

Townie Tailgate

 Contact to come

Exeter-West Greenwich High School

Food Truck 

 Trucks still in production - check back later!

Lincoln High School

The Mane Event

Ken Hopkins

Principal

hopkinsk[at]lincolnps.org

Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (the MET)

Food Truck

 Trucks still in production - check back later!

Newport Area Career and Technical Center

Food Truck 

 Contact to come

Pawtucket - Shea High School

Get RIght

Ricardo Pimental

Director of Career & Technical Education and Unified Arts

pimentalr[at]psdri.net

Providence Career and Technical Academy

Good Eats and Treats

 Contact information here

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

Westerly High School

The Highland Grille

Chef Jamie Finkelstein and Chef Zach Zarkowski 

jfinkelstein[at]westerly.k12.ri.us

(401)-315-1587

Woonsocket High School

The Culinary Caravan

 Contact to come