The food truck fad is alive and well in Lancaster County.

Occupational Development Center (ODC) of Lancaster didn't invent the phenomenon or even initiate it. But ODC has certainly proliferated it - and benefited from it.

"It was starting before the pandemic, and it's still doing well," said Ken Mueller, ODC's public relations and development manager for the last nine years. "The number of food trucks available in our area is unbelievable. It allows for a nice variety."

"I like food trucks," continued Mueller. "I think generally, the food you get from food trucks is good. When you put a group of food trucks together, it's almost like a smorgasbord. I want to eat at all of them. We have a really good mixture of different types of food. That way, everybody is happy."

ODC's upcoming fundraiser is based on the popularity of food trucks. The organization's seventh annual Food Truck Fest will be served up between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at Stauffer Park, 1241 Lititz Pike, Lancaster. There will be 16 local food trucks plying their dishes, and all the proceeds from the event will be evenly split between ODC and the Manheim Township Recreation and Park Planning (MTRPP) Department.

"We want everyone there to have a good time," said Mueller. "We want the owners of the food trucks to have a good experience, and I think they do, because they come back. It's just lively, but it's not a carnival. We have music going. You see a lot of conversation. People bump into people they haven't seen in a while."

The food trucks will be offering culinary treats like ice cream, wood-fired pizza, funnel cakes, waffles with ice cream, beef jerky, bacon and other smoked meats, gourmet cupcakes, fresh lemonade, brewed drinks, West African diaspora fare, Cambodian offerings, Caribbean/Latin American fusion, authentic Mexican dishes, Southern-style soul food and Middle Eastern cuisine. The food truck operations originate from Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Red Lion, New Holland and Columbia.

Visitors to the Food Truck Fest will be afforded an opportunity to vote for their favorite food truck, and the truck with the most votes will be recognized with a prize.

"It's a family-friendly event. It's a pet-friendly event," said Mueller, a resident of Neffsville. "Everybody has fun, and there's stuff for the kids to do. From an Occupational Development Center standpoint, we're a small nonprofit in an area that has a lot of big nonprofits. It's not just about the money. We're getting our name out there and letting people know who we are and what we do."

In addition to the taste bud treats, ODC's Food Truck Fest will feature music and family-oriented activities. Kids can receive tours and have their photos taken with MTRPP Department construction vehicles, a Manheim Township fire truck and a Manheim Township police cruiser.

"It's a great event," said Mueller. "People get excited about it. People tell us they love the food truck event. There's a lot of really good word of mouth going on with this event. We've raised more money every year."

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend ODC's Food Truck Fest. Organizers are hoping to raise $7,000 for ODC, a social services organization located at 640 Martha Ave., Lancaster, which provides job training and occupational opportunities for local individuals with developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities.

ODC is funded through personal and business donations, foundation grants, Medicaid and labor fees charged to participating businesses.

"(Proceeds from the Food Truck Fest) allow us to keep doing what we're doing," said Mueller. "During the day, our participants are volunteering in the community or exploring work opportunities. A lot of that money helps us do those things."

ODC's nearly 40 participants range in age from 20 to 83, and they reside in all parts of Lancaster County. The organization's staff is made up of 13 mostly full-time employees.

"We are providing (participants) with vocational skills training," said Mueller. "They could be utilized in the marketplace. Hopefully, we can find them work in the community. We want them to find a job or help them find a job. The push is to get our folks into the community."

For additional information, go to http://www.odcenter.org.