Second Harvest Community Food Bank is changing the name of its on-site pantry, and in the process changing the way it serves the community.

 

They will renovate the pantry to look more like a grocery store.  They’ll continue to offer food at no cost to those quo qualify, but will soon offer the entire community access to fresh, affordable food, using multiple forms of payment, including cash, debit cards, SNAP food-stamp cards, and WIC benefits.

Officials say they will call it “Fresh Start, Your Community Market,” which will serve as a nonprofit grocery store and will be open six days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Construction on the new look is expected to begin by the end of this month.

The goal of Fresh Start is to close the meal gap by expanding food access in a dignified way. Fresh Start is Second Harvest’s social enterprise endeavor and assists us in building-hunger free communities.

“The transition of Harvest House to Fresh Start will not only improve services to our community friends in need but it will be the national launch of a new model in sustainable, customer centric hunger relief,” said David Davenport, Second Harvest, CEO.  “When it comes to addressing the growing challenge of access to healthy food, Fresh Start changes the entire dynamic. Fresh Start changes everything.”

Community members who have a household income of less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines will have access to nutritious food at no cost through the Fresh Picks program. Additionally, the entire community will be able to access fresh food at affordable pricing.

Fresh Start will also offer a 10 week Empowerment Program that will train individuals in retail best practices. Trainees will go through a one-week internship with a local store. At the completion of the program, Fresh Start graduates will be placed into employment in a retail setting.

For more information about Fresh Start online, go to www.ourcommunityfoodbank.org/freshstart or call them at 816.364.FOOD.