HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Just days after his food truck was stolen from outside his bar, Old Mill Pub near Sciota, Bryan Schmidt received a surprising text from an old friend.
"Her message said, "Don't cancel any of your dates. I have a trailer you can use," said Schmidt.
That friend is Cyndi VanGilder.
She saw on Facebook that Schmidt's truck had been stolen out of his pub's parking lot in Hamilton Township early Monday morning.
knowing all too well what it's like to own and operate a food truck of her own, she wanted to help her friend of 30 years.
"When I heard Bryan say the devastating part is having to go to my four employees and tell them I don't have work for you. That's his bread and butter, but that's also, you know, the support of this is how we live, and without hesitation, I called Bryan and said I have this food truck not being used. Come and get it," said VanGilder, the owner of Scarlet Fire Pizza.
State police are still searching for whoever is responsible for stealing the food truck from Old Mill Pub.
The Pocono native says the food truck business isn't an easy one, and there is always a risk.
"For any food trucker on the road, times we have to leave our truck or a trailer by itself unhooked, and the risk of it being stolen is always a factor, and that's the biggest fear in running a mobile food both," VanGilder said.
While Schmidt says he misses his food truck, he does say Cyndi's trailer will help him and his employees get back in business just in time for the season.
"It's close enough. Like we can make it work. We will probably have to modify our menu a little bit, but for the most part, it has everything we need," Schmidt said.
Looking back on their friendship, Schmidt says this isn't the first time VanGilder has helped him.
"When we first got our truck on the road, she was a huge help for us in getting and navigating the whole food truck world for our first season," Schmidt said. "So she's been just dynamite."
"We're a part of the Pocono community and it's important that all of us support each other," VanGilder said.
Support Schmidt says he's grateful for.
"It restores your faith in humanity a little bit at least. you know. For as many as these bad people that do this stuff, there the good people like Cyndi out there who are willing to help out," said Schmidt.
A friendship that goes far beyond their food trucks.