Watch CBS News

Eagan Boy Uses Make-A-Wish For Food Truck Charity

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- His father describes him as a 12-year-old foodie, but for a while, he wasn't able to eat at all.

Lucas Hobbs, 12, of Eagan has been battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the blood. Make-A-Wish decided he could use a treat. Now, he's using it to treat others.

Officer Craig Crisp and his partner Miquel Barnes went for the protein -- they both got spicy chicken sandwiches from the Gastrotruck.

"It's actually really really good," Officer Crisp said.

Lines of other officers stood outside Minneapolis Police Headquarters, some enjoying mac n' cheese and caprese sandwiches from O'Cheeze. But it's the sentiment the officers savored most.

"We get some people saying they appreciate what we do, but nothing like this by adults, let alone a kid," Officer Barnes said.

Lucas is here because of what happened to him -- lymphoma. After around 40 days in the hospital in chemo treatments, his father Matt says Lucas had an idea.

"When we were at Minneapolis Children's, food was a very difficult thing for him to eat, and he really struggled with that," Matt Hobbs said. "He's kind of a foodie, he loves food."

So when Make-A-Wish said they'd grant him a dream, Lucas wanted to serve those who've served him, in a food truck.

"When I was sick, people brought me food from our church, and it was really nice of them," Lucas said. "It kinda got me thinking about my Make a Wish, so I asked my parents if I could use my wish to help others."

He's served his church, and now he's serving those who protect -- several dozen Minneapolis Police Officers.

"They're forgotten sometimes," Lucas said.

But not on this day -- Chef Lucas Hobbs is proving the belly and the soul aren't too far apart.

"They're better than doughnuts," Officer Crisp said.

The food truck idea specifically came to Lucas after he and his dad watched the movie Chef - about a boy and his dad who run a foodtruck.

Great news - Lucas is as you saw feeling better he has finished chemo and is pushing forward. Next, he is going to serve free foodtruck food at a senior home, then to a homeless center. You can follow his journey and get the latest updates on his Facebook page.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.