There’s a new bus in town.
The Mobile Market at Second Harvest
Where did it come from? Second Harvest recently applied for THEZONE Project’s mobile food security grant opportunity to help fill food access gaps in northeast Spokane. As recipient of this award, Second Harvest will receive a financial gift from the local Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, A Charitable Foundation and an in-kind donation of a 35-foot bus from Spokane Transit Authority to create a new Mobile Market. The concept is loosely based on the Twin Cities Mobile Market operated through the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in Minnesota.
What will it do? The Mobile Market will operate as a healthy “choice” food pantry on wheels. The bus will be equipped with shelving and cold storage to deliver nutritious fresh produce and other groceries to those who can’t reliably access food in other ways. Customers will walk through the bus to select their own items with help from staff and volunteers. Just like Second Harvest’s existing 11-year-old Mobile Market model, the donated food will be provided at no cost to people who need it.
Who is it for? The Mobile Market bus was inspired by THEZONE Project, a collaboration initiated by Spokane Public Schools, Empire Health Foundation and Gonzaga University. THEZONE Project responds to disparities experienced by residents living in northeast Spokane, including the persistence of food insecurity and poor health outcomes. The Mobile Market aims to address social determinants of health by: § Increasing the number of healthy food access points in THEZONE neighborhoods § Increasing the frequency of healthy food distribution options § Supporting scratch-cooking lessons taught by The Kitchen staff and partner organizations, and other wrap-around services
Why is it different? Since 2006, Second Harvest’s Mobile Market has shared healthy food with hungry people with dignity and choice where they are at. The new version, transforming a bus into a walk-through market, will position Second Harvest as the leader in innovative and holistic solutions to hunger by: § Increasing the number and frequency of food access points § Providing support to health interventions by other partner organizations § Offering more opportunities for healthy food sampling and nutrition education
When will it start? In the next 60 to 90 days, Second Harvest will: § Update the bus to serve as a walk-through market § Equip the bus with racking, refrigeration and other tools § Wrap the bus with graphics § Integrate the bus with existing programming, including nutrition education § Create opportunities for partnerships to implement the new mobile model § Use social media campaign to tease Mobile Market and earn community support § Begin road testing Mobile Market in August § Target “Grand Launch” of Mobile Market for September/October The Mobile Market will be piloted in northeast Spokane, the neighborhoods targeted by THEZONE Project. Down the road, Second Harvest will use the bus to model this outreach in other areas.
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