May 22, 2024
Four minutes away from Nationwide Children’s lies the largest distributor of free food in Ohio – the All People’s Fresh Market. This week my classmates and I had the honor to assist this food pantry – this was the first time I had stepped foot in one.
All People’s Fresh Market is open!
Prior, when I had thought about food pantries, I imagined rows and rows of canned, processed, or packaged goods; in fact, when I searched up the address for the clinical site, I was a bit confused when a “Fresh Market” popped up as a search result. To my surprise, this pantry was stocked with fresh produce ranging from watermelons to “unlimited” (one crate of!) eggplants market members could take home. Members have the opportunity to come in once every day the market is open.
Restocking produce!
Upon entering the food pantry, we were all assigned various roles for the day; these roles included blood pressure screenings, signing in members, greeting market members, and restocking vegetables. I was assigned to blood pressure screenings; however, as the day progressed, I found myself helping members pack their produce to promote a steadier flow of individuals coming in and out. The pantry limited the number of guests in the pantry by limiting the number of circulating baskets.
One thing that surprised me most about All People’s Fresh Market was the number of resources it provided that was not simply food. Depending on the day, All People’s Fresh Market hosts various outreach events (i.e. Maryhaven, SSTC) and even dance and gardening classes! There was also a community outreach representative from OSU educating and distributing Naloxone and Fentanyl/Xylazine test kits.
South Side Thrive community outreach stand!
To be able to be a market member of All People’s Fresh Market, you have to be a household earning less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. An ID is all it takes to become a member; though, if one is in the process of obtaining an ID, they are still permitted to shop here. Food pantries like these address Sustainable Development Goal 2.1 which states, “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” By providing opportunities for underprivileged individuals to obtain adequate food, food pantries are one of the driving forces in achieving food security for all, and in turn, a hunger-free world.
Working in inpatient psych, I have come across many patients that are underserved and/or underprivileged. This experience re-opened my eyes to what sort of resources are available for this demographic and what life might be like for them. Amidst boxing produce for an older gentleman, he expressed deep gratitude for us volunteering here. He spoke with heartfelt emotion about his nephew’s battle with cancer, mentioning that the food he had acquired that day was intended just for him. Today, I brought home not only the lessons of this experience, but the powerful narratives of those who enter All People’s Fresh Market.