Free Fresh Food Boxes Now Distributed Biweekly at Local Community Centers
In an effort to alleviate food insecurity within the community, Harris County Precinct 4 (Precinct 4) has partnered with The Common Market, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit regional food distributor, to offer Harris County residents access to fresh produce at designated community centers. Funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this one-year partnership, commencing this month, forms part of a broader initiative to address nutritional needs within communities exhibiting higher rates of food insecurity.
The partnership will yield biweekly deliveries of 70 boxes of fresh, nutritious produce to Bayland Community Center on Bissonnet, and another 70 boxes to Radack Community Center on Clay Road. Half of the consignment directed to Bayland, a total of 35 boxes, will then be allocated to Burnett Bayland Community Center on Chimney Rock. According to Precinct 4, The Common Market will provide 70 fresh food boxes at no cost to Harris County.
The joint initiative aims to grant food-insecure individuals access to free boxes containing fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthful food items. Notably, The Common Market prioritizes sourcing produce from socially disadvantaged farmers in Texas, thereby fostering a sense of community support and resilience.
Farm fresh foods in a box distributed within The Common Market's Texas region. (Source: The Common Market)Distribution began on January 11 at Radack Community Center and on January 12 at both Bayland and Burnett Bayland Community Centers. Since its inception in 2008, The Common Market has strived to bridge the gap between sustainable family farms and urban communities, providing farm-fresh food through community institutions and facilitating fair trade.
Rooted in its mission to enhance food security, farm viability, and community and ecological health, The Common Market has distributed more than 283,072 farm-fresh boxes to those in need across the United States since their inception. The organization focuses on the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas, and, most recently, the Great Lakes regions.
The Common Market, the brainchild of Haile Johnston and Tatiana Garcia-Granados, was established in 2008 as a response to poverty and neglect witnessed in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. Recognizing that small family farmers were struggling to access markets, they connected these farmers with communities in need, ensuring access to healthful food while promoting sustainable farming practices.
Registration for fresh food boxes is required, and is limited to one box per household. For details about upcoming food distribution opportunities provided through this partnership, visit cp4.harriscountytx.gov/Events. To learn more about The Common Market, visit their website at thecommonmarket.org.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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