Food trucks gather in Carrboro for fundraiser

This Valentine’s Day, Carrboro residents showed their love for the town and local charities through food, fun and fundraising.

Food trucks —including Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Baguettaboutit, Cocoa Cinnamon and Parlez-Vous Crepe — came together at 5:30 p.m. at the Carrboro Farmers Market for a food truck rodeo.

“I personally love food trucks,” said Leighann Breeze, program director for TABLE, a non-profit hunger relief organization that works in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

“I would have it every week if they could.”

About 10 percent of the profits made from the participating vendors will go toward TABLE and the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, a Chapel Hill nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter and relief services to those in need.

“We felt that it’s important to always partner with some nonprofit when you’re out here for the community,” said Chris Derby, a partner of the Baguettaboutit food truck.

Elizabeth Garfunkel, executive assistant for IFC, said the donations will help provide food, shelter and other services to the needy. The group survives solely through donations.

“We love our community and it’s all with community support,” she said.

But having the opportunity to donate money to local nonprofit organizations wasn’t the only reason vendors and residents came out to the event.

Ky Waegel, a UNC graduate student, said this wasn’t the first food truck rodeo he had attended.

“I enjoy it just for the variety of foods,” Waegel said.

Baguettaboutit first came up with the idea for the food truck rodeo. Though other food truck rodeos have happened in Carrboro, this was the first Valentine’s Day fundraiser.

“Food trucks in general are just becoming a lot more active in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh,” Derby said.

Baguettaboutit’s idea reached Chela Tu, the owner and operator of Chirba Chirba Dumpling. Tu then spread the word about the opportunity.

“We just started asking our food truck fellows who wanted to be a part of it,” Tu said.

She said that the rodeo is also part of “For the Love of Carrboro,” a town initiative to offer business specials for couples and singles and activities for nearby residents throughout the month of February.

Cocoa Cinnamon was one of the vendors Tu asked to join the food truck rodeo, and part-owner Areli Barrera said she was excited to take part.

“It’s great taking a holiday and making it into something actually worthwhile.”

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.