New mobile market brings fresh food to low-income residents

HOLLAND, MI – Low-income households in Ottawa and Allegan counties will soon have fresh groceries brought directly to them.

Community Action House earlier this week launched its new Food Club Mobile Market— an extension of the Food Club & Opportunity Hub — designed to bring fresh, healthful food directly to neighborhoods in Ottawa and Allegan counties

The food club is a membership-based grocery store that allows low-income households to access fresh food in the place of a traditional food pantry. Membership rates are $12 to $19, based on household income, and members get points with which to “shop” for items.

“Unlike a traditional pantry, where most items are shelf-stable, we’re able to offer a lot of fresh produce, meat, dairy and other healthier items,” Katy Russner-Travis, communications director for Community Action House, said.

Community Action House aims to pilot the mobile market in some mobile-home communities and church partner locations and grow the program based on areas of greatest need in Ottawa and Allegan counties.

“With the mobile market, we know a lot of families in Ottawa County have transportation as a barrier to food access, so while food club offers it, they might have a hard time getting there,” Russner-Travis said.

Existing members can use their points at the mobile market just as they would at the food club at 739 Paw Paw Drive in Holland. People who qualify but are not yet food club members can purchase a day pass for $5 or $7.

In the future, the mobile market will bring other Community Action House services directly to neighborhoods, including resource navigation and nutrition education.

Households can find out if they qualify, and what neighborhoods the Mobile Market will service at communityactionhouse.org/food-club-mobile-market.

The mobile market is a volunteer-run program, and hours of operation will be determined by the number of volunteers.

People and organizations that want to volunteer can email [email protected].

Community Action House’s food club also benefitted from a $300,000 community grant from UnitedHealthcare.

“We are honored to support the launch of the Food Club Mobile Market to help increase access to critical resources in the community,” Dennis Mouras, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan, said in a statement. “By ensuring individuals and families have access to nutritious food, we’re enabling them to live healthier lives.”

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Grand Rapids” daily newsletter.