By Ryan Moriarty
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer< /p>
FALLSTON, Md. – The local Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co., situated squarely next to the town’s only high school, has found a way to give residents Thursday night dining options beyond the handful of restaurants that fill up quickly after school ends.
It’s called “Food Truck Thursday.” To the delight of many in this tightly bound community of about 9,000, the offerings run the gamut. A large, canary-yellow Cowboy Eats van attracts customers with its animated cow riding a meat smoker and logo “Farm to Truck to You.” Crossroads Bistro, a two-toned green and brown vehicle with a huge globe plastered on the side, serves up a variety of cultural fusion cuisine. And to wash down the food, Independent Brewery is on site with its increasingly famous craft beer on tap.
The goal, said organizer Susan Pafel, is to bring the community together and raise money for the fire department.
“We were just looking for something, like a different kind of fundraiser,” Pafel explained, “something to kind of bring the community together a little more.”
And the community has taken notice, said Fire Chief David Williams.
“Roughly every Monday, we will post [on Facebook] the upcoming Thursday’s food truck line up,” said Williams, adding that the event also includes musical groups and opportunities for the community to view the fire department and its vehicles, called “Touch a Truck.”
“We always get over well into the four digits on the reach,” said Williams, comparing the social media draw with the 9,000-resident count.
Fallston, located in East Central Maryland in Harford County, is a community where people live by the landmarks that sit on Mountain Road. There is the Four Corners Shopping Center off Baldwin Mill followed by neighborhoods stretching for miles into Baltimore County. A 7-11 convenience store is perched just off Pleasantville, down the road from a swim club, elementary school and recreational center. Travel two minutes up the one-lane highway of Mountain Road and there is Carrs Mill Road, home to the high school, the middle school, and the fire company.
Typically on Thursday nights, residents rush to Basta Pasta off Baldwin Mill, Acappella’s behind the 7-11 and Vince’s Crab House. But now, for the past six weeks, residents have enjoyed new options. Trucks like The Baltimore Crab Cake Co., Brick and Fire Pizza, and Two Guys Grill, travel North to assemble around the front of the Fallston Fire Department.
As the truck pull into the front, the small back parking lot quickly fills up with cars of families lugging chairs and blankets. The live music draws residents from their homes to the parking lot too.
Williams said the event has more of a “festival feel,” as well as providing fun and education for children. He said the “touch a truck” has been very popular, while also educating children on the safety vehicles and equipment.
“If I had to guess, I would say it’s been probably about 70 to 80 percent families [ that turn out], as opposed to 20 to 25 percent couples,” said Williams. “Definitely more families than couples, I believe.”
Gary Zamerski, fire sergeant and corresponding secretary, said the event, since its inauguration, has generated a greater interest in the fire company.
“It’s brought back some members we haven’t seen in years,” said Zamerski, explaining that he was active in the 90s but left for family reasons before returning when his son joined the company.
Williams added, “We’ve had 22 to 30 volunteer fire company members here every Thursday night, and the reason we know that for a fact is we account for everybody’s time. Plus, we’ve had calls, responses, emergency calls to be handled during the events and we record how many people have been there for those.”
The idea for the fundraiser was floated for “about a year” but was not put into action until early August, said Williams. Five food trucks are invited each week with each owner agreeing to donate $100 to the company; some more generous businessmen offer to contribute a percentage of their profits for the night.
“Two weeks ago, three of them (trucks) left early because they sold out of their food,” said Pafel, noting the popularity of the idea.
“It gets bigger each week,” said Pafel, noting the food truck idea may rival the company’s annual Bull Roast, which typically generates “several thousand dollars.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser is used to cover fire company expenses, such as vehicle maintenance and upkeep, Williams said.
“There’re other counties that do the food truck events,” said Pafel. “Harford County doesn’t have anything like this. But now that we’ve done this, others are. I’ve been getting phone calls about ‘how do I get a food truck.’”
Food Truck Thursday is expected to continue until Oct. 24, and will return for two weekends in November, officials said. Why November? The hugely popular Fallston Cup soccer tournament runs Nov. 15-17 and then Nov. 22-24.