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ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY
About Andale On Wheels
At Andale On Wheels, we’re more than just a food truck—we’re a movement. Founded with a mission to nourish both body and soul, our nonprofit food truck serves delicious, high-quality meals while using the proceeds to provide hot meals to less privileged kids in Philadelphia.
What started as a way to serve 40 to 50 kids on one night per week in Kensington section of Philadelphia has grown into a larger mission to combat food insecurity in our community.
We believe that no child should go hungry, and with every meal sold, we take another step toward making that belief a reality. Our journey began with a converted school bus, and today, to make the program more sustainable we’re working tirelessly to expand our reach to high-demand areas like Temple University and University City.
Empowerment
Weekly outreach to 40–50 kids grew into a citywide fight against hunger. Every meal counts in the fight against hunger.
On the Move
From one school bus to reaching Temple & University City—hunger doesn’t wait. Every moment matters in the fight against hunger.
More about the organization
Andale Latino Grill On Wheels (Andale On Wheels) was founded in 2016 by Ramezan “Reza”Ghasseminia, an experienced entrepreneur, hotelier, and restaurateur with over 30 years of expertise in the food service industry. Driven by his passion for social impact, Ramezan “Reza” saw firsthand the growing food insecurity crisis in Philadelphia and recognized an opportunity to use his culinary expertise to serve the community. Rather than following a traditional brick-and-mortar model, he envisioned a mobile, self-sustaining solution that could bring fresh, nutritious meals directly to underserved children—those most affected by hunger.
With personal savings and a deep commitment to service, Ramezan “Reza” transformed a retired school bus into a fully operational food truck, creating Andale On Wheels as a nonprofit food initiative. The organization launched its mission by partnering with The Rock Ministries and Police Athletic League (PAL) centers, two well-established community organizations that provide safe spaces, mentorship, and resources to vulnerable children in Philadelphia. By aligning with these organizations, Andale On Wheels was able to serve free hot meals to children participating in after-school programs, summer activities, and community events.
Since its founding, Andale On Wheels has expanded both its impact and vision, growing into a recognized leader in mobile food security initiatives. What started as a small, self-funded effort has evolved into a community-driven operation, with the capacity to serve 45-75 meals per meal service to children in need. However, despite this progress, demand continues to far exceed current capacity, highlighting the need for operational expansion and financial sustainability.
Over the past several years, Andale On Wheels has cultivated strong community partnerships, forged relationships with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and donors, and developed a scalable, mission-driven food truck model. The organization’s long-term vision is to expand its reach, increase meal distribution, and secure a permanent vending location near One of Philadelphia’s large learning institutions to establish a more sustainable funding model.
With continued funding and support, Andale On Wheels has the potential to serve more children, strengthen its infrastructure, and become a long-term solution to Philadelphia’s food insecurity crisis. The organization’s unique combination of social entrepreneurship, community service, and culinary expertise positions it as a transformative force in the fight against child hunger.
Vision Sparked
Pilot program launched at The Rock Ministries in Kensington, Philadelphia.
Officially a Non-Profit
Applied for and received our 501(c)(3) non-profit designation from the IRS.
Building the Dream
Our pilot program continued, and we launched fundraising efforts to raise approximately $100,000 to convert a school bus into a fully functional food truck.
Pandemic Pause
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted our plans and operations.
Construction
The full size school bus was totally converted to a kitchen on wheels with the kitchen looking much like our Andale Latino Grill Restaurant. Quick casual service.
Ready to Roll
Construction of the food truck was completed, and all necessary licenses were obtained to begin operating at private events.
Giving Back
We initiated a partnership with PAL (Police Athletic League) and began using profits from private food truck events to provide free meals one day per week. We serve nearly 150 to 175 dinners per week at PAL centers.
Expansion
After witnessing the impact, PAL invited us to expand our efforts to a second location, recognizing the value of our mission. Our aim is to serve all 7 PAL centers which will amount about 700 to 1000 Meals Per week.
Our Mission
At Andale Latino Grill On Wheels (Andale On Wheels), our mission is clear and unwavering: to fight child hunger by providing fresh, nutritious meals to underserved communities in Philadelphia while establishing a sustainable food service operation that supports itself through strategic food sales and community partnerships.
Food insecurity is a devastating reality for thousands of children in Philadelphia. Many of these children go to bed hungry, struggle to focus in school due to malnutrition, and lack access to healthy, well-balanced meals. Andale On Wheels was founded on the belief that no child should have to experience hunger, and that food is not just sustenance—it is an essential foundation for health, growth, and opportunity.
What sets Andale On Wheels apart is its unique, dual-purpose approach:
- Community Service – By delivering free, high-quality meals to children at Police Athletic League (PAL) centers, community organizations, and underserved neighborhoods, we ensure that those most in need receive the nourishment necessary for their well-being.
- Self-Sustaining Food Sales – Unlike traditional nonprofit models that rely solely on donations, Andale On Wheels operates with a social enterprise approach—selling authentic Latino cuisine at public events, college campuses, and local venues. These food sales directly fund our free meal program, creating a sustainable cycle of giving that allows us to serve more children without constant reliance on external funding.
- Teach them essentials of social etiquette – By direct interaction with the children, we teach them to treat the future children in need the same way that we serve them. We recruit volunteers from their peers, put them through a crash course on safe food handling process, communications with their peers.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to equity, dignity, and sustainability. We do not just provide meals—we provide hope, stability, and a pathway toward a hunger-free future for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable children.
Through strategic partnerships with local businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, and food suppliers, we maximize our impact, ensuring that every meal served contributes to a broader movement to end food insecurity in Philadelphia. Our long-term goal is to expand.
We envision a future where no child in Philadelphia goes to bed hungry.
Our Goal
Establish Philadelphia’s leading nonprofit food truck program, one that not only provides free, nutritious meals to underserved children but also serves as a scalable, self-sustaining model for combating food insecurity in urban areas across the state and the country.
Our Vision
Food insecurity is a deeply rooted issue that affects thousands of children in Philadelphia, limiting their potential and negatively impacting their physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Andale On Wheels seeks to bridge this gap by providing consistent, high-quality meals to children in the city’s most vulnerable communities while building a sustainable operational model that ensures long-term success.
For the Future
- Expand Access: Operate in multiple strategic locations across Philadelphia, including near major universities, where food sales can fund free meals for children—reducing reliance on grants and donations.
- Lead by Example: Become a nationally recognized model for mobile food security, proving that nonprofit food trucks can be both impactful and financially sustainable.
- Replicate the Model: Share our blueprint with other cities facing similar challenges, so communities across the country can adapt and implement it locally.
- Build Stronger Networks: Strengthen partnerships with local schools, businesses, and nonprofits to create a community-wide support system for vulnerable children.
- Innovate for Impact: Continuously improve our service model, invest in more efficient meal production, and expand our reach to serve even more children.
Through this vision, Andale On Wheels aims to transform the fight against food insecurity in Philadelphia, proving that a well-structured, mobile meal program can provide immediate relief while paving the way for lasting systemic change.
Our commitment goes beyond just serving meals—we strive to build a future where no child has to experience hunger, and where our model inspires similar initiatives in communities across the nation.
Change makers and Champions of fight against child hunger
SPEECH
Feeding Bodies, Fueling Futures—One Bus, One Child, One Change at a Time
I have a cause, see what I do and love at www.AndaleOnWheels.org, Named after my iconic small fast food restaurant Andale Latino Grill. Check it out at www.AndaleLatinoGrill.com. I have been feeding 60 kids a hot meal weekly for the past few years and the ones who are still in my program are like my adopted children. They call me Pappa. I recently purchased a 40’ (12.2 Meters) long school bus, which is being converted to a mobile restaurant.
I believe food insecure kids, not only need their physical bodies fed, but their mind and their spirits as well. We will travel together away from the slums they live in and drive through nice neighborhoods in this bus showing them that there is a different life available for them beyond their slums.