June 18, 2015
Though every edition of Night Market draws thousands, tonight's event (June 18) in Callowhill will be extra special. The National Food Truck Association and Bank of America have teamed up with (RED), an organization that fights against AIDS, in their EAT (RED) DRINK (RED) SAVE LIVES campaign, and Philly's lending a helping hand.
Throughout June, the three organizations will host food truck rallies around the country to raise money for The Global Fund, and Callowhill Night Market is one of them. Tonight, from 6-10 p.m. at 13th and Callowhill streets, every time a Bank of America credit or debit card is used at one of 24 participating vendors, 40 cents will be donated to The Global Fund. Bank of America hopes to raise $250,000 for The Global Fund this month, and Philly diners can help tonight.
Rob Mitchell, the chef behind two-time Vendy-winning truck The Cow and the Curd, helped organize this initiative through his work with the NFTA board and as president of the Philly Mobile Food Association. Turning the ever-popular Night Market event into a fundraiser, he said, is an exciting prospect.
"It's a situation where everybody wins. It's a great cause and it makes a powerful statement and it's an opportunity to make a difference," Mitchell said.
Though individual trucks frequently participate in charity events like Dining Out for Life and PMFA recently gathered its forces to endorse mayoral candidate Jim Kenney, this is the first time it's collectively backed a charity of choice.
The 24 participating food trucks will have (RED) square decals in their windows to indicate their allegiance (or you can click here for an updated list). Among those helping fight AIDS are Oink and Moo BBQ, Sweet Box Cupcakes, Poi Dog Snack Shop, recent Vendy winner Seoulfull Philly and Vernalicious.
"[Night Market] is an over-the-top food truck event where people come out to celebrate summer, mobile cuisine, the Epicurean lifestyle," Mitchell said, "and now we get to celebrate a great cause and hopefully putting an end to AIDS and raising money for that to really make a difference. It's the perfect night."
