Meet Christina Harvey | Marine, Chef & Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Harvey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was getting ready to retire from my military career after 20 years. I tried to find a job. I have multiple degrees, but I couldn’t get a job, because my whole adult life I had been active duty, which meant I didn’t have any experience in the civilian sector. I became a Paralegal while on active duty, and later I attained my Bachelors in Criminal Justice. And yet, because I had no experience, I couldn’t get hired. I started my own business so no one could tell me “NO” anymore, just to feed my family.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are C-Rations Grub Hub! I am a Retired Marine Corps Veteran and my Husband is a Retired Army Veteran. We both come from law enforcement of sorts from our military background and we didn’t want to do that anymore. We’d seen enough! I went to culinary school after my last deployment, then I started a catering company out of my home in 2010. I catered in between my military obligations, until I retired in 2014. Then I catered full time and sold meals on the side. In 2019 my hubby had this wild hair and thought it would be a great idea to buy a food truck. So we did! January of 2019, we purchased our food truck, and in March of that same year, COVID hit. And we were literally dead in the water for the rest of 2019, and majority of 2020. We were finally able to get permitted, and inspected by the Health dept Sept of 2020. But, it’s cold by October, so another year has passed. Fast forward to May of 2021 and we’re finally able to open. And we’ve never looked back. In 2023, we were finally to a point that we’re able to serve what WE called our purpose. In May of 2023 we started our free food give away for the kids. Every 2 weeks we’d feed the kids a few meal, along with enough to take home. We also provided coats, shoes, and clothing to whomever needed it. The kids get so excited when we come! We get out and do dance contests, which are their favorite, and we do races and just love on them for a while. It was more of a blessing for us than it was for them. In January of 2024, we were able to open our restaurant. And now we’re able to bless even more, and that’s what drives us most.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d plan a camping trip to our local winery. But we’d have a cabin. With me being a chef, it would be my honor to cook for my friend. Or maybe we cook a meal together! Take the tours of the winery and local entertainment. Bonfires are a favorite of ours as well, so we’d end our nights with one each night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success, growth, and anything else that added to my successes are all because of The Most High God of Israel. My husband was my motivator, My kids were the best cheer squad, and my dad, whom I lost 6 months ago, was the one that kept me striving to go bigger!! So I went from a home based catering company to food truck and restaurant owner.

Website: Www.C-RationsGrubHub.com

Instagram: C_rations_grub_hub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crationsgrubhub/

Image Credits
I took all of my own photos