Dupage Policy Journal

A Lombard couple has turned their van into a dining room so they can continue to support local dining establishments while sticking to COVID-19 guidelines.

Kim and Doug White converted the back of their vehicle into a mobile dining room, complete with a table and chairs. 

“Well, we’ve really always enjoyed going out to eat and we have a lot of family and friends that are in the restaurant industry,” Kim White said in an interview with WGN News. “We know how difficult it is for them right now.”

Kim White said her husband is currently going through cancer treatments and isn’t able to be out in the general public, but they wanted to continue supporting local restaurants.

Kim White said she went to a home improvement store and got a table to put in the back of the van and then used some of their own folding chairs. She also bought a checkered table cloth and lights for the back of the van.

Kim White said when they called some of the local restaurants they frequented, the restaurants were happy to come out and serve them in their van.

Doug White said at some restaurants they were elated to get to plate meals and bring them out to the couple since they have only been doing takeout.

“They’ve been doing so much takeout so for them to get to plate it excited them,” Doug White said.

Kim White said they had no idea how their mobile dining room would take off and that as long as Doug White is in treatment, they will continue to use the mobile dining room even if restaurants open back up. 

Kim White said they call ahead so that they don’t have to use menus and they sanitize everything to make sure they’re safe, as well as those who are serving them.