Welcome to Soulcial Kitchen
Where Food is Love.
Building community capacity one entrepreneur, one customer, one neighborhood at a time — through dignified dining, faith-driven values and the power of small business.
Our campus
Delivering Dignity on Demand
At Soulcial Kitchen, we believe food has the power to do more than nourish — it has the power to heal, unite and inspire hope. That’s why the heart of our mission is on wheels.
Our chef-driven food trucks deliver hope, joy and fellowship to neighbors across the Metro East — free, high-quality meals funded by our award-winning Currency of Caring program.
Our hospitality campus in Swansea, IL is home to America’s first DOL-certified Food Truck Apprenticeship Program. We don’t just serve food — we serve people.
- Restaurant
- Craft bar
- Dog park
- Food truck park
Impact in action
Every meal served fuels opportunity.
- Free hot meals servedAcross multiple states and in Rwanda, Africa
- 357,050+
- New food truck businesses launchedBy graduates of our apprenticeship
- 7
- Apprenticeship graduatesTrained, equipped and empowered
- Dozens
What we do
Five programs, one mission
Currency of Caring / Feed It Forward
Buy a token, feed a neighbor — a free, chef-made hot meal served with dignity.
Learn moreFood Truck Apprenticeship
America’s first Department of Labor-certified food truck apprenticeship.
Learn moreMobile Food Distribution & Community Meals
Chef-driven trucks bring hot meals straight to the neighborhoods that need them.
Learn moreVolunteer & Donation Programs
Give your time, talent or treasure — every hand multiplies the impact.
Learn moreLocal Partnerships
Businesses, restaurants and nonprofits building a stronger food system together.
Learn more
As featured in
- CBS NewsFeeding the Soul: Teaching the Food Truck BusinessWatch (opens in a new tab)
- The IntelligencerAmerica’s first food truck apprenticeship programRead (opens in a new tab)
- EIN PresswireSoulcial Kitchen’s Food Truck Apprentice Program Goes NationalRead (opens in a new tab)
- KSDK 5 On Your SideSoulcial Kitchen provides thousands of free meals during shutdownWatch (opens in a new tab)
- NewsBreakSoulcial Kitchen supporting military families during government shutdownRead (opens in a new tab)
2025 Restaurants Advance Leadership Award
Community Champion: John E. Michel
Presented by American Express, the Community Champion Award honors our co-founder — a retired Air Force Brigadier General — for building a hospitality innovation hub that trains aspiring entrepreneurs, including people with disabilities, launching the groundbreaking Food Truck Apprenticeship, raising $2.5 million for the mission and creating a “Currency of Caring” that turns compassion into meals.
See the 2025 winners (opens in a new tab)Be part of the story
Your meal. Your support. Your partnership.
Feed it forward
A Currency of Caring token becomes a free, chef-made hot meal for a neighbor in need.
Give a token (opens in a new tab)Volunteer
Serve on a truck, help on campus, mentor an apprentice or help at community events.
Sign up to serveGive or partner
Your gift or business sponsorship puts more trucks on the road and more plates in hands.