Local food truck celebrates 10 years of serving customers regardless of payment

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Since opening its doors in 2016, Heart N Soul Community Cafe has become a space for not only a hearty meal, but a place to gather and feel welcomed.

“In life, people’s circumstances can change really quickly, and with that, you might not know where your next meal is coming from. And so, being able to come to a community cafe where you’re welcomed no matter what, no questions asked, and you can get a meal,” said Leola Daul, Founder and Executive Director of Heart N Soul Community Cafe.

Daul opened the cafe after coming across an article in a magazine about pay-it-forward meals. The next thing she knew, Heart N Soul came to life. And in the last year, the cafe has been named Nonprofit of the Year, and Daul has been recognized as both a Distinguished Leader and YWCA Woman of the Year.

“You know when you’re first starting out, you’re taking it day by day. And you’re hoping that people believe what you’re doing and so I’m just grateful that the community has supported this idea and that we’re here today,” said Daul.

For Jules Ibanez of Fargo, Heart N Soul has been a lifeline for her and her three kids.

“I don’t have to worry about feeding my kids. Like I went to the library last night, at the Moorhead Public Library, they had their event there for the first time. And I’m like oh I went there, my kids came home, we ate dinner. I didn’t have to worry about cleaning up so much. I didn’t have to worry about the money at all, I didn’t have to stress at all, we had dinner, and that was it. And it was stress-free, and that’s a lot for a mom of three kids,” said Ibanez.

Ibanez has been a supporter of Heart n Soul for the past three years. And she, like many, was excited to sit down with a hearty meal.

“I’ve been coming here a lot, and I met other people through Heart n Soul because of it. I came here last week, and I met three ladies. I think they were with the Native American Indigenous tribe. They offered to help me out, too, and I’m like, oh, this is amazing. I feel appreciated, I feel like I’m known and I do matter,” said Ibanez.

For more information about Heart N Soul, you can find it here.