A journey of learning, healing, and teaching

Kelsey Card was told she would be on medication for life. She was told she needed to have surgery to remove an eight centimeter mass and reconstruct her intestines from Crohn’s disease. Now, two and half years later, medication and surgery free, she’s healing from it all, and is helping others find their own journey to healing. Card opened God Fuel to share her knowledge and teach others ways to eat healthy.

“God was like now you are going to help others learn what juicing and eating right is and here I am,” said Kelsey Card, owner of God Fuel.

The Start of a Business

God Fuel opened its doors on July 1, 2021. After renovating an old, run down building in Hampton, Iowa. Offering a variety of fresh juices, smoothies, and healthy eats, it is a welcoming place for all who come.

God Fuel is open from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed Thursday) and 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday. Customers are able to order from the menu or shop from the grab-and-go cooler that features fresh juices, overnight oats, energy protein balls, salads, and more. The menu varies by season and availability. Working with local farmers whenever possible, all fruits, eggs, and veggies that can be locally sourced are used. Everyday God Fuel uses about 30 pineapples, 200 apples, and 150 oranges. They also work with a small family-owned business on the east coast to overnight their seafood.

Popular menu items include poke bowls, chicken tacos, soups, smoothie bowls, veggie rolls, and so much more. Popular juices include the Sunnie (pineapple, carrot, lemon, apple, mint), Sunday Morning (orange, pineapple, apple, kale, lemon), or Sweet Green (celery, greens, cucumber, line, parsley, green apple).

The Story Behind It All

Growing up, Card’s mother owned a small business downtown Hampton called the Wood Cellar. Working closely with her mom, she has had an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Card opened her own clothing boutique, The Orange Possum, in 2008. Although, she has owned her own business for years, Card had no previous experience in the food industry and has been learning as she goes.

“A lot of the recipes [at God Fuel] I had throughout my juicing journey,” said Card.

At the beginning of her diagnosis, Card did a strictly juice diet for 40 days and then slowly started introducing more solids, like smoothies into her diet. After two years of eating nothing but fruits and vegetables, she is now able to enjoy any whole foods with real ingredients. Card, through God’s guidance and prayers, was able to help her body miraculously heal through completely changing her diet, and this is what led her to want to share her knowledge with others.

“I just want to help others with health and nutrition. Helping other people to feel good,” said Card.

Juicing has many benefits for your health. According to WebMD, your body can absorb nutrients more quickly by drinking. If you do not have very many fruits and veggies in your diet, juicing can provide a way to get those nutrients into your system quickly. Juicing changed Card’s life, and created a new life she would have never had before. With a passion to teach others and share her faith, starting God Fuel is only the first step to creating a lasting impact in Hampton and surrounding areas.

Community Impact

“The community has been really supportive and they are learning what we all have and what it is,” said Card.

Community member, Jen Walton had never juiced before, but after visiting God Fuel shortly after it opened, she fell in love.

“The idea of making a juice at home would never have been something I would have done earlier, but with trying them and realizing that they don't just look interesting, but they taste great!” said Jen Walton, loyal God Fuel customer.

After visiting several times, Card offered to let Walton borrow a juicer so she could start juicing at home and she was immediately hooked. Her whole family fell in love, and they love the taste and benefits of the juice.

“The crave for sweets is not as much and the juice is not sugary, it's so tasty to just drink whenever. My kids also like it and that's a huge win, no more buying juice at the store,” said Walton.

Like Walton, God Fuel has opened the doors for so many to anew way of living. Living in a small town, these opportunities are not readily available and it had been a new experience for everyone in town to get a taste of freshness.

Looking to the Future

Just as Walton started as a customer that was simply curious the new business that opened up in town, she quickly fell in love with juicing and its benefits. Card strives to teach and help others how to live a healthy lifestyle that was able to help her heal her body.

“Kelsey has a great outlook on her business, she makes these drinks/foods but wants to educate people to do this on their own at home if they also choose,” said Walton.

Creating a space where people can come hang out, read a book and play a guitar, is something that has set God Fuel apart. Walking in the doors you feel rejuvenated and at home. Faith is a huge part of the business as well and wants to use God’s creation to show others His love. Providing this small town with fresh products, it has created and will continue to create a lasting impact on Hampton and surrounding areas.

“I am most excited to see where the growth goes and whats to come. When we first opened many people had never really been introduced to fresh juice and didn’t really know what it was. As they start eating it and they feel better. Then they tell their friends and their friends feel better and it has just grown so much and it is cool to see,” Card shares.

Card is super excited for the opportunities that God Fuel given her and the growth in the future. Card wants God Fuel to be a safe place to hangout and provide healthy food, while teaching and impacting the lives of others.