"Our work is centered on the needs of community members, as defined and prioritized by those community members," explains Marty Roberts, Executive Director of Lot 2540, one of Second Harvest’s dedicated partners serving communities across Rockingham County. Our focus, and that of all of our coalition partners, is building healthier, stronger communities. Food is a starting point.”
Lot 2540’s Mobile Market program began in 2016, with support from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Second Harvest, and others. It has continued to grow in its outreach each year since, but nothing prepared Roberts and his team for the impact of COVID-19.
“We were serving double the number of families and ended up opening a new Mobile Market site every quarter. Now we have nine sites.”
No one organization alone (Or...It Takes a Village)
No one organization alone can fully address all of the challenges being experienced in low-income communities, where many families who were already struggling have been hit hardest by the fallout of the pandemic.
The Circle Drive Mobile Market Coalition in Reidsville is a partnership with Cone Health, Second Harvest, Strong Minds-Strong Communities, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, The Circle Drive Neighborhood, and local churches, businesses, and organizations) - and is just one example of the kinds of collaborations organizations like Robert’s and Second Harvest are convening and supporting to strengthen our communities.
"We're focusing on the whole person - on connecting community members with services that can help them across all aspects of a healthy life, that's physical, mental, social, and spiritual, too," says Roberts.
Roberts says the fresh produce his organization is providing is essential to the efforts of his coalition members, and greatly appreciated by the families coming through the Mobile Markets. About 90 percent of the produce being given out at the Lot 2540 Mobile Markets comes through the agency's partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. In turn, the majority of the produce Second Harvest provides comes through the food bank's longstanding partnership with Walmart.
When everyone works together, life gets better, communities become stronger, and real and lasting change can be made. Right now, you can join Walmart and Sam's Club in making a difference in the lives of families in YOUR community through their 8th Annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign.
FIGHT HUNGER. SPARK CHANGE. Learn how here.
