Trucking in the food to feed the hungry

A food pantry serving a growing number of people in need while it works to create a larger, more welcoming facility will bring seven food trucks to Saukville’s Grady Park on Saturday, Sept. 23, for the third annual Ozaukee Food Alliance Food Truck Frenzy.

The event, which runs from 3 to 9 p.m., will also feature two bands, a kids’ zone and cornhole tournament.

There will be a 50/50 raffle and a raffle for Green Bay Packers tickets, and the food pantry will sell beer.

The food trucks that are participating are That Taco Guy, Smokin’ C’s BBQ, Tots on the Street, Greek Street Eats, The Graze Outdoors, Cupcake-A-Rhee and Chubby Bunny Boba.

The band 90’s Jake will play from 3 to 6 p.m. and Shut the Front Door will be on stage from 6 to 9 p.m.

The kids’ zone will feature a Touch-a-Truck event that gives children a chance to explore the Village of Saukville’s large trucks, games and face painting from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with a food or monetary donation to the pantry.

The cornhole tournament will start at 3 p.m. with walk-up registration beginning at 2:30 p.m. The tournament is a four-game round robin with double elimination brackets suited to players of all skill levels. It is $20 per person or $40 per team.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Ozaukee Food Alliance, and the food trucks will donate a portion of their proceeds to the pantry.

The event comes as Ozaukee Food Alliance, formerly the Saukville Food Pantry, works to renovate the old Tri-Par building on the corner of Green Bay Avenue and South Main Street for use as its headquarters and pantry.

The 15,000-square-foot Tri-Par building is more than twice the size of the pantry’s current facility at Parkside Community Church and will include offices, warehouse spaces for food, the Port Washington State Bank Welcome Area with a community room on the side, a hydroponic garden and Joyce’s Kitchen, a small food preparation area paid for by a donor who experienced hunger in her lifetime.

There will also be the Ernie von Schledorn loading dock and the pantry itself, which will resemble a market with large coolers and freezers lining the walls.

Ozaukee Food Alliance plans to begin operating out of its new facility next year.