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Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank expanding its reach with new mobile market
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BATON ROUGE — The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is expanding its reach with a new mobile market.
The new Groceries on the Geaux program is set to launch over the summer, with the goal of bringing needed nourishment to areas, like Donaldsonville, currently without brick-and-mortar grocery stores.
"They're going to walk through the truck like they're in a grocery store. They're going to get to choose and see what the different options are, see the prices," Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Vice President of Impact Jordyn Mancuso said.
Cruising Kitchens, a group in San Antonio, is building the vehicle. Those with the company say they have already built 30 of these mobile markets so far. The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank's vehicle will be self-contained, with the ability to plug into electricity or use a generator.
Danyell Henriques runs Heavens Care, an outreach group that provides resources to people facing homelessness and food insecurity, which she says is a growing problem in Ascension Parish. She says the number of families she serves is increasing.
"Week to week, that's anywhere from 10 to 20 families. It's been growing every week," Henriques said.
Henriques said transportation is a major barrier for some facing food insecurity, which is why she believes the new program will help meet the needs of those living in the area, bringing produce to the people.
"It's heartbreaking because they're having to make tough decisions," she said.
Mancuso says the mobile market addresses transportation barriers.
"One of the biggest barriers we hear when it comes to food insecurity is not just that they not able to get the food or buy the food that they need for the month, it's that they might not have a way to get there and get it," Mancuso said.
She adds, the mobile market will carry fresh produce, frozen protein, some dairy products and shelf stable items. The food bank will accept EBT, SNAP, cash and card payments.
The initiative is being funded by a multi-year agreement from Blue Point Number One. The $1.797 million in funding from Blue Point will cover the purchase of the mobile market's delivery vehicle and three years of operating costs.
“Every household deserves reliable access to healthy, affordable food close to home,” said Liz Pfifer, President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. “Groceries on the Geaux Mobile Market is an innovative way to expand access to healthy foods while honoring dignity and choice."
The mobile market will operate throughout the food bank's 11-parish service area, making regular stops on the west bank of Ascension Parish, where CF Industries and its partners are investing $3.7 billion to construct the Blue Point Complex as well as where CF Industries’ Donaldsonville Complex is located.
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