Meeting Kids + Families Where They Are
Launched on September 8, 2021, The Eat. Learn. Play. Bus is a mobile resource center that embodies the three core pillars of the foundation and brings each component to life in a fun, unique, and engaging way that leaves visitors smiling and inspired. With an innovative and one-of-a-kind design, the bus provides nutritious meals and groceries, age-appropriate books, and more to Oakland kids and families.
The innovative team at Cruising Kitchens, a leading custom food truck builder and mobile business fabricator, brought the bus design, production, and creation to life.
The passenger side of the bus is a hub of food distribution, offering a variety of options from everyday grocery staples to quality meals prepared by local restaurants, and fresh fruits and vegetables from California farms.
Our lead partner, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, a nationally recognized food aid and logistics expert, procures and stocks the food on the bus. A valued long-time partner, the food bank leads day-to-day logistics, operating the bus on its regular route and at special events. We also work with Community Kitchens, a collective of 50+ Oakland restaurants, to provide hot restaurant meals.
The driver's side features a free bookstore with thousands of age and culturally-appropriate books for Oakland children. In addition, the bus doubles as an entertainment venue, featuring a basketball hoop, rooftop deck, and state-of-the-art sound system to help host community events.
The bus bookstore is curated by the Oakland Literacy Coalition, Literati, Oakland Public Library, and other literacy partners. Together, we identify culturally appropriate stories and encourage students to explore with curiosity, kindness, and imagination.
The Eat. Learn. Play. Bus has distributed more than 85,000 books and 25,000 meals reaching over 10,000 kids across 25 schools and community centers in Oakland.
Since October 2024, Joie, the internationally renowned baby gear brand that recently launched in the U.S., has served as the Title Sponsor of the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus, marking a major milestone in the foundation’s mission to support children and families across Oakland through vital nutrition, education and enrichment programs. At the heart of both Joie and Eat. Learn. Play. is a shared commitment to spreading joy to kids and families while making a lasting impact in the community.
As part of the three-year partnership, Joie has committed to ensure the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus continues its vital work within the Oakland community. This collaboration will come to life through Joie’s support of the Bus's school and community visits, as well as its participation in special events that have become a cornerstone of the foundation’s impact across Oakland.