Gertrude Whitsey
(Aunt Trudy)
Valeria Hyde
Owner & Director
"To see what Trudy's Kid's Cafe has become, to witness the children we fed grow up and return to help us, that's what this is all about. Trudy's is about community. Trudy's is about love. Trudy's is meant to model all the greatest aspects of my friend Trudy and everything she did for our area."
- Valeria Hyde, Director
Trudy’s Kids Café, located on South First Street in downtown Union City, TN, was established 20 years ago. One day, Valeria Hyde and Trudy Whitsey came across an article about a “storehouse” that distributed food to the needy. After many discussions, prayer, and a plan in place, the two women decided to contact the number in the article to find out what resources they needed to get started. Once the application was completed and they better understood what was in store, the two ladies got to work. Mrs. Val (as the children call her) and Mrs. Trudy organized a monthly food distribution system to run out of a small property adjacent to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, calling it “God’s Little Storehouse.” Although the program quickly outgrew that small location, you can still drive by and see a beautiful mural in memory of Mrs. Trudy Whitsey on the outer wall. With the help of Paulette Dysart, the late Laura Yander Shephard, the late Kelly Callicot, and the late Jackie Bond, Mrs. Valeria was still able to expand the program, with their sole commitment being based on making sure no child in the community went hungry.
In 2016, the feeding program came across a wonderful opportunity to obtain a largerspace located on the corner of South First Street and Washington Avenue. The three-story glass building is decorated with colorful images of children, while the inside is filled with tables, chairs, and many non-food items donated by businesses and individuals from the community. This facility made it possible to feed children not only during the summer but also throughout the school year. Children can come to Trudy’s Kids Café from 3-5 p.m. every weekday to receive a hot meal along with help with their homework. In 2021, Trudy’s Kids Café expanded even more when it obtained property on East Main Street. Weather permitting, Mrs. Val will take the children over to the property, where they can receive a meal and eat, play games, and run around.
Over the years, Trudy’s Kids Café has become a safe haven for children. Mrs. Hyde gives all the glory to God, stating, “Nothing would be possible without Him.”