By There’s a street cart available for sale,” Melvin Ward enthusiastically explained to his wife, Revonda. “I’m going to go pick it up!”
It was an 8-hour drive from his home in Roanoke, Virginia, to New Jersey, and another 8 hours back. But Melvin was so excited about his new purchase, he drove the miles without stopping.
“I got it!” he told his wife when he got home and began unpacking his prize—a practically new hot dog street cart.
Melvin, who owns a limo company, had always had a special dream. “When I retire, I want to start some kind of one-man business,” he’d say. Though the 56-year-old was a long way from retirement, when he heard about the food cart for sale, he knew it was the right time to get started on making that dream come true.
Filling hearts and bellies
Melvin named his business Kool Kids Diggity Dawgs and set up his cart near his limo lot for lunchtimes. On the weekends, he sold hot dogs, chips and drinks at local festivals and other events. He brought smiles wherever he went, and business was so good, soon he upgraded to a full-size food truck.
“Maybe there’s a way I could even start using my cart to help others,” Melvin mentioned to Revonda one day after seeing how happy it made his customers. At the time, Christmas was approaching, which gave Melvin an idea…
Every December for nearly two decades, Melvin had already been dressing up in his Santa outfit to bring gifts to kids in hospital wards and ICUs. He also visited the Roanoke Mission and local project housing, bringing residents a trailer full of clothes and hygiene products that he either bought himself or were collected by members of the local Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, where Melvin serves as business manager.
What if we also provide hot dogs along with the donated items? he thought to himself. And that’s exactly what he did. At Christmastime in 2023, Melvin also filled bellies as those in need came to receive the necessities he had collected. After, his heart was overflowing with joy.
“We need to do this more than once a year,” he told Revonda, and she wholeheartedly agreed.
Spreading more love
Several months later as the Super Bowl approached, Melvin began collecting extra supplies and gathering donations. “We’re going to throw a Super Bowl tailgate party for your residents,” he told the Roanoke Mission staff, and they were all thrilled with the idea.
It was chilly on Super Bowl Sunday, but the weather didn’t stop the fun as Melvin and Revonda served plates of hot dogs, chips and drinks for nearly 200 men, women and their children living at the mission’s shelters. And as usual, they also brought a trailer full of donated clothes and other home items to pass out.
“This is wonderful—thank you so much,” one mom hugged Melvin as her two little boys chomped on their dogs and chips.
“That was delicious, can I have another?” asked another senior resident.
“As many as you want,” Revonda said and loaded up a toasted bun. Soon, the man and Melvin were swapping game predictions.
By early evening all the dogs had been eaten and all the donations given away. “That was a great party!” guests agreed, and as game time approached, they wandered back inside to watch on one of the mission’s TVs.
“Should we do it again next month?” Melvin asked Revonda as they packed up
to go home.
“And the month after that!” she replied.
Kool Kids Diggity Dawgs has continued throwing hot dog parties, including a big Fourth of July bash and an end-of-summer block party. The local sheriff’s department, Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club and a local hair salon have all helped out with food costs by sponsoring several events.
“We just try to help everybody,” says Buffalo Soldiers Roanoke Chapter Founder Melvin Kasey.
“Whatever it takes.”
As for Melvin, that’s his philosophy too, and he’s just grateful for the opportunity to give back. “God has blessed me, and this is the best way I know to pay my good fortune forward,” says Melvin, who has no plans to take a break from Kool Kids Diggity Dawgs. “Everybody deserves to have a little fun now and then.”
