Framingham hot dog stand's pay-it-forward campaign gets boost from TikTok feature

FRAMINGHAM — A local hot dog cart is making a difference, one weiner at a time.

Zippity Do Dog , at 160 Speen St., has a program in which people can receive a free meal. The program is funded by customers who pre-pay for meals for someone in need. While the program has been around for about a year, the pay-it-forward program has seen an increase in donations after a feature from a local broadcast network .

Owner Roland Houle said he started the program last year on Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving . Houlee estimates Zippity Do Dog has given out about 250 free meals since the program began last year.

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Houle said he's aware of the need for food due to his volunteer work with local MetroWest organizations, including the Ashland Food Pantry . He's seen an increase need for food over the years. People who receive free meals from the stand are truly people in need, according to Houle.

"I've definitely seen a need from the increase in need from the food pantry in the past few years," he said. "I don't think it's ever been anybody who just forgot their wallet. There's a lot of repeat people who use it and some of them I've gotten to know a little bit and it's definitely people who need it."

Food truck's free food sees boost in popularity after TikTok profile

Houle has owned Zippity Do Dog since 2019. It's known for its Kayem Old Tyme franks and Pearl all-beef quarter-pounder dogs. The menu also includes burgers and steak and cheese sandwiches.

The trailer has been on Speen Street since 2007 after opening as “Trolley Dogs” at La Cantina Italiana on Waverly Street .

"We have a very loyal customer base that comes on a regular basis," Houle said of the cart. "There have been three different owners of the trailer, but we've all been doing the same thing. It's been a long-standing truck that's been in the community for a long time."

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The stand has a sign advertising for people to donate. But after a recent feature on TikTok , Houle said he received a boost in the program after it was featured by WBZ reporter Matt Shearer. WBZ and its team of reporters are known for posting features from Greater Boston on its TikTok page, including local MetroWest dining establishments.

"I ended up having to set up a Venmo account for it," Houle said. "The videos have over 100,000 views and I got comments from people and donations from people all over the country."

Zippity Do Dog is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham hot dog stand's pay-it-forward campaign gets boost from TikTok feature