Photos: Steph, Ayesha Curry unveil renovated Eat. Learn. Play. bus
Ayesha and Stephen Curry unveiled their newly renovated Eat. Learn. Play. Bus. on Wednesday. Ayesha Curry came up with the idea for the bus back in 2019 while building the couple’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.
According to Chris Helfrich, the foundation’s CEO, Ayesha Curry was adamant about “how can we provide, consistently, fresh food produce in the food deserts in Oakland and to Oakland families who are food insecure. … The bus allows us to bring that dream of hers to fruition, by putting it on wheels we’ll be able to bring food anywhere.”
While addressing children at the East Oakland Youth Development Center, Steph Curry described how the bus is there to “serve the community, in the community, a well-rounded experience, good nutrition, free books, free library, and to have some fun playing sports that you love.”
The converted school bus was renovated by a team led by Cameron Davies, president and CEO of Cruising Kitchens. Davies and his team — who are also featured on “Built for Business,” a TV show on MotorTrend — built the bus in 10 weeks with artwork on the outside by Illuminaries Murals and Design, with artists in the Bay Area and San Diego.
Children at the youth center may not have been surprised after they were brought outside to the parking lot, where the bus was parked, when the Currys appeared from inside the bus — after all, plenty of TV cameras were on hand to film the unveiling. Their face masks muffled their excitement, but cheers could be heard throughout the parking lot. Food and books were passed out as music blared.
“With this bus, we’ll be able to travel anywhere in the community and meet kids and families where they are with the resources they need and again do it in a fun and dignified way,” Helfrich said. It is “Steph and Ayesha’s commitment to serving Oakland kids and families in new and different ways, fun ways, with food and resources kids and families need to thrive.”
The foundation plans to have the bus on a 5- or 6-day-a-week schedule by early 2022. Eat. Learn. Play. is partnering with charities across the city, including the Alameda County Food Bank. The food bank will go out with the bus every time, helping families learn where they can get fresh food and produce.
“The Eat. Learn. Play. Bus embodies the three core pillars of the foundation and brings each component to life in a fun, unique, and engaging way that will leave visitors smiling and inspired. With an innovative and one-of-a-kind design, the bus will provide nutritious meals and groceries, age-appropriate books, and more to Oakland kids and families,” according to the foundation’s website.
For more information, visit the Eat. Learn. Play. website.
Photographs by Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group