Yolanda “Poobie” Shields has seen her fair share of adversity, conflict, and hardship. Yet she comes to work every day to carry on a vision to provide for a community she calls home.

Poobie’s Kwik Stop sits on top of the hill at 40 Rock Hill Lane, but that is where the story is currently.

The story begins down the hill and across the street where Poobie’s parents–Johnnie Mae Shields and Robert Shields Sr.—opened the first food truck in Franklin County called Neighbors Helping Neighbors–the oldest food truck in Franklin County–back in 2016.

“My parents started Neighbors Helping Neighbors Kitchen to help people in the community, make great food, and have great prices,” Poobie said. “We were at that location for five years, but then my parents transitioned the food truck to me. My mother and father were the leaders and guiders and had a vision for this, and I wanted to honor that.”

The vision hit a speed bump due to unforeseen circumstances, changing the entire landscape for Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Poobie declined to elaborate, but the result was the end of Neighbors Helping Neighbors Kitchen.

“At this point, my parents were frustrated because they worked hard all these years,” Poobie said. “My dad decided he was going to give it up because it was such a big sacrifice.”

But although Poobie had to deal with conflict, the vision her parents had set out for the food truck trumped the idea of letting the dream die.

“We were closed for a little while after that, and it made me feel empty in a way,” Poobie said. “It made me feel like I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing. I need to be continuing the dream.”

The itch of getting back to helping people and carrying on her family’s vision brought Poobie’s Kwik Stop to life.

“I enjoy bringing joy to other people. I put a swing out here, and kids will come and play, I like that,” Poobie said. “Since I don’t have any children of my own, it makes me happy to see others happy–being able to provide something I think this town may lack, with a place to eat and be around loving people.”

After the move to the new location and the new name change, Poobie said it has been difficult to advertise but credits the college for their support.

“The students have been supportive, and (I) appreciate their support because if not for the college students, there wouldn’t be many people supporting us because it’s such as small area,” Poobie said. “Sometimes when I might get discouraged, God always sends someone my way to be encouraging, like you, coming by because I need Ferrum College students to know about me and the food because when they taste it, they will say it’s the bomb.”

Poobie’s not only sells food, but on occasion does yard sales, too. Two college students have also run yard sales on Poobie’s land.

Poobie wants everyone to feel loved and welcome to eat at her food truck but wants to give the students the feeling of eating at a home-cooked meal.

“Everything we make is delicious and made with love. One thing my parents always stressed was never eating food from anybody if they were arguing over it or if there was chaos,” Poobie said. “We’ve got a lot of different choices; we have homemade cooked made to order food. We’ve got things from seafood, barbeque, delicious chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cakes, homemade drinks, homemade apple pies, muffins, and homemade sides. A lot of students who have eaten my food have said it reminds them of home. If there is a student that’s far away from home and miss a hot homemade meal, they can get it right here.”

Poobie took a step on her own to continue the dream her parents had set out when starting Neighbors Helping Neighbors Kitchen.

Looking into the future, Poobie has growth on her mind.

“I would love for Poobie’s to be more involved in the community,” I would like Ferrum Forward to get involved with their farmers markets on our land,” Poobie said. “Eventually it would be nice to go from a food truck to a sit-down restaurant.”

Poobie said she doesn’t do what she does for the money, but to carry on a family business and bring something unique to Ferrum.

Robert Shields, Sr.–Poobie’s father–was the one to nickname her Poobie.

“My dad said when I was born, I was soft, so the name Poobie came with it,” Poobie said. “With my personality, I can be soft, but I can be tough too. You got to be able to have both sides depending on the situation.”

But Shields Sr. always made breakfast for her in the morning.

Poobie said her father grew up poor and was starving all the time, and made sure his kids would never go hungry.

“One thing led to another, which made me love to cook and enjoy the experience of spreading the joy of making and eating good food,” Poobie said.

Poobie’s is open Thursday and Friday from 5-9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.. and Sunday from 2-9 p.m.