HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Days after his food truck was stolen outside the Old Mill Pub bar near Ciotat, Brian Schmidt received a surprising email from an old friend.
“Her message said, 'Please don't cancel your date. We have a trailer for you, please use it,'” Schmidt said.
That friend is Cindy Vangilder.
She learned on Facebook that Schmidt's truck was stolen from the parking lot of his pub in Hamilton Township early Monday morning.
Knowing what it was like to own and operate a food truck on her own, she wanted to help her friend of 30 years.
“The thing that shocked me the most when I heard Brian say that is that he has to go to his four employees and tell them you don't have a job. That's his source of income. But it also means, you know, supporting this is what we do for a living.” “And I didn't hesitate to call Brian and tell him that this food truck wasn't being used and he was going to come pick it up. Please,” said Van Gilder, owner of Scarlet Fire Pizza.
State police are still searching for the person who stole a food truck from the Old Mill Pub.
The Pocono native says the food truck business isn't easy and there's always risk.
“As a traveling food truck driver, there are times when you have to leave your truck or trailer off the hook, but the risk of theft is always a factor, and it is one of the biggest It’s scary,” Van Gilder said. .
While Schmidt says he misses the food truck, he says Cindy's trailer will allow him and his employees to get back to work in time for the season.
“We're close enough. We can make it work. We'll probably have to modify the menu a little bit, but for the most part we have everything we need,” Schmidt said.
Reflecting on their friendship, Schmidt says this isn't the first time Van Gilder has helped him.
“When we first put the truck on the road, she was very helpful in helping us navigate and navigate the whole food truck world in our first season,” Schmidt said. . “I mean, she was just dynamite.”
“We are part of the Pocono community and it is important that we all support each other,” Van Gilder said.
Schmidt says he appreciates the support.
“It restores faith in humanity, at least a little bit. You know, as much as there are bad people who do things like this, there are good people like Cindy who are willing to help.” is there,” Schmidt said.
Their friendship extends far beyond the food truck.
