From a very young age, I found my passion in the kitchen. I started cooking as soon as I was tall enough to reach the stove, inspired by my mother, who raised me as a single mom. Cooking became my way of helping her, and over time, it grew into a true joy and a lifelong passion. My father, a farmer in another country, also influenced my love for food and fresh ingredients. Together, these experiences shaped my dream of sharing my food with others and building something of my own.

Recently, I took a big leap of faith and traded my car for a food truck. It was a huge step toward making my dream a reality, but now I’m facing some tough times. I am currently unemployed, and with the economy struggling, bookings as a private chef have slowed down. I need help to get my food truck business up and running—there are renovations to be done, paperwork to handle, supplies to stock, and staff to hire. Every bit of support will bring me closer to opening my doors and serving my community.

If you are able to help in any way, please know how much I appreciate it. Your support will not only help me build a better future for myself, but it will also allow me to give back. Once my food truck is up and running, I plan to give away free meals at least once a month to those in need. Thank you for believing in me and helping me fulfill my purpose.

If you’d like to check out my journey and see the story of how I obtained my food truck, follow me on Instagram or TikTok: @chefyankyardee.