The library at Langley Meadows Community School was buzzing with excitement on Friday morning, as 130 students were served fresh waffles from the Beljam’s Waffles Food Truck.
This is the third year that owner Nathan Shandler has cooked a free meal for students, using the surplus ingredients left over at the end of his food truck season.
“At the end of the season we have our extra food leftover, and we decided to donate it. And the Breakfast Club of Canada is a great thing, so we like to support it,” Shandler said.
“And really, what’s more important for us, there are a ton of other food trucks that close up every year, and I would challenge them to do the same thing. Because I know that they all have leftover groceries, leftover ingredients.”
Originally based in Vancouver, Shandler made waffles for students at Lord Strathcona Elementary on the Downtown East Side for the last two years.
But having recently moved to a home in Cloverdale with his wife, and moved their business operations to Langley, “we felt that we need to give back to the community that supports us. And they really have been really supportive,” Shandler said.
In the past, students have given them handmade art as a thank you for the waffles — something that Shandler says he is very touched by.
“It makes you feel good,” he said.
“The kids are really appreciative of us coming out. When went to Strathcona, they made little cards for us … they did little artwork to say thank you and drew pictures of our truck.
“That’s the pay off, that really is the pay off.”