Food truck rally returns to Herkimer after raffle inquiry: Here's how it happened

Brandon Whiting, Times Telegram
·4 min read

Just weeks after the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown was moved to Frankfort amid an official inquiry into its raffle, the event has returned to Myers Park with additional charity involvement.

The annual series of summer food truck rallies, which was started in 2020 by Village of Herkimer Mayor Dana Sherry — she was at the time a member of Herkimer's Citizens Advisory Committee — was abruptly shifted to a temporary Frankfort location June 27 in response to the inquiry, which called for documents including proof of liability insurance and 501(c)(3) documentation.Since then, Utica-based nonprofit Food 4 Hunger has stepped up to represent the event, and the rally returned to Herkimer after a two-week hiatus on July 11.

"Because of all the things that happened, I said to Dana Sherry, ‘Well, let's collaborate,'" said Nick Bridenbecker, director of Food 4 Hunger. "'I have the certificates that are needed. Let's bring it back.’"

The Myers Park band stand, where bands have traditionally performed during the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown.
The Myers Park band stand, where bands have traditionally performed during the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown.

How Food 4 Hunger got involved with Chowdown

Founded in February 2021, Food 4 Hunger primarily works to provide food to those in need. Bridenbecker owns and operates a woodfire oven which he uses to cook pizzas, serving them for free at various community fundraisers and food drives.

It was those pizzas that he says first brought him into contact with Sherry this spring.

"She reached out to us originally just to be a vendor serving pizza," said Bridenbecker. "So that's how we started."

FOR SUBSCRIBERS:Why Herkimer's 2022 Downtown Chowdown was abruptly canceled, moved to Frankfort

Boilermaker results:Record win in 2022 Wheelchair 15K

Under New York state law, raffles like those held at the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown can only be held by "authorized organizations" like charities recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).

Village officials said those documents had not been provided to them ahead of the scheduled June 27 rally.

Food 4 Hunger is listed in the IRS database as having tax-exempt status under IRC 501(c)(3). As a charitable organization, it is able to legally hold raffles so long as the proceeds go to a charitable cause.

Bridenbecker said 50% of the proceeds from the raffles held at each future Chowdown will go to paying its live music acts, and the other 50% will be donated to a local charitable organization.

"Now whatever money is being raised, I want to keep in the community and help the community," said Bridenbecker. "It's community money; the people in the area that are helping, so it should only stay in the community."

From the July 11 rally, Bridenbecker said half of the proceeds helped purchase and donate food to Herkimer's Salvation Army.

"We're trying to do something good here," he said.

Herkimer's Downtown Chowdown truck food rally takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. each Monday.
Herkimer's Downtown Chowdown truck food rally takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. each Monday.

What does the future of Herkimer food truck series look like?

When Sherry was sworn in on July 6, village board member Maria Fiorentino said the new mayor presented proof of insurance for the event to the village board.

“I don’t think any board member had an issue with having the Chowdown, had an issue with it in the park," said Dr. Mark Ainsworth, a Village of Herkimer board member. "I just think there were some issues with proper documents and coverage.”

Looking ahead, Bridenbecker said Sherry has been showing him the ropes of running the event and that, "right now it's a co-thing, and it's probable going to remain that way, at least for another week or a couple of weeks."

Sherry declined to comment for this article.

In this new partnership, Bridenbecker says the food truck rallies will still look the same as they have before, lined up in Myers Park, serving a variety of foods while bands play live music for crowds of Herkimer residents.

He's just happy to have been able to help bring the event back to the place where it started.

"I much appreciate Frankfort and Ilion stepping up and inviting us over, right?" said Bridenbecker. "There's nothing negatively to be said about that. But it started as the Herkimer Chowdown and it should be back there."

Herkimer Downtown Chowdown is held from 4-8 p.m. Mondays in Myers Park through October.

Brandon Whiting covers Herkimer County community and neighborhood trends for the Times Telegram. Email him at BWhiting@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Herkimer Downtown Chowdown returns: What you need to know