A food truck off Loop 410 is serving more than Philly cheesesteaks – it\u2019s serving up second chances.<\/p>\n
At Papa Philly<\/a>, the focus isn\u2019t just on food. It\u2019s on transformation.<\/p>\n \u201cHard work is earned,\u201d said Nick Lilly, director of operations at Harvest Home. \u201cI just see the transformation of a life.\u201d<\/p>\n The food truck is part of Harvest Men\u2019s Home<\/a>, a recovery program designed to help men transition back into society after battling drug and alcohol addiction. Through hands-on work, participants gain job experience, structure and stability.<\/p>\n Lilly said the truck was created with a specific purpose in mind – to provide a safe work environment for men in recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cThe food truck is something that we purchased so the men that live at the home, they don\u2019t necessarily have to get an outside job where there\u2019s temptation that might influence them to go somewhere that may lead them to fall,\u201d Lilly said.<\/p>\n The men working at Papa Philly are part of Xtreme Harvest Church\u2019s ministry, where recovery is paired with accountability and personal growth.<\/p>\n For Roy Garcia, a member of Harvest Home, the experience is both challenging and rewarding.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna work, it\u2019s gonna stretch you,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna be put in positions you\u2019ve never been in. From there, that\u2019ll show your weaknesses and what you need to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n The food truck offers more than employment. It gives participants the opportunity to earn money, build confidence and prepare for life after the program.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t just give a certificate and graduation and say, \u2018OK, good luck,\u2019\u201d Lilly said. \u201cI make sure they leave with a car, an apartment and a job.\u201d<\/p>\n Since opening its doors, Harvest Men\u2019s Home has helped more than 100 men get back on their feet.<\/p>\n Don Morales, the program\u2019s first graduate, said the experience changed his life.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I gave my life to the Lord, something inwardly changed,\u201d Morales said. \u201cIf there\u2019s something I could share with the world, it\u2019s that. No medication, no substance, no relationship can give you the hope that Jesus Christ gives you.\u201d<\/p>\n