Union’s RobinHood Group awarded national grant, to expand healthy and affordable food access

UNION, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Lately, it is been more difficult and more durable for a lot of households to afford fresh and economical meals. Feeding The usa data compiled by Stacker.com, exhibits Union County is the 4th most meals insecure county in the point out as of 2019. But a area food items organization is making a change.

Elise Ashby launched Robinhood in 2001, in Washington DC. She introduced the organization to Union County in 2015, and slowly started to expand the downtown farmers market place

“Young men and women with young children. It is more mature folks who are getting people beans or that okra, we have cooking demonstrations, we have tastings and bakers are offering out samples of things children are consuming ice cream. It is an function, I indicate, it is a community house,” reported Ashby, RobinHoods founder, describing the farmers industry.

Now from March to November the market is thriving. With vendors like Cora’s Goodies,  and Mrs. G’s Cake, Cakes and A lot more. Also, Ashby’s Fru-Ge-Ley ice cream, a innovative way to make young children eat their veggies.

“[The farmers market] gives our people with domestically developed develop. They know particularly the farmers who designed it,” claimed Ashby.

Nearby farmers like Cleveland Jackson. A horticulturalist and former agriculture instructor at Union Substantial Faculty.

“Vegetables, contemporary veggies are so balanced for you, but I did not know it as a little one. But now, I comprehend it,” he stated.

“It’s exclusive to have a farmers market place the place the price ranges are not as substantial as the grocery retail store, and the greens are lovingly grown,” stated JoAnne Sikes, a new seller at the sector.

But the market place is just section of RobinHood’s do the job, the corporation also operates the county foodshare software, cooking demonstrations, academic programs for youth and quite a few gardens.

“Why not make wholesome feeding on a norm?” claimed Ashby.

Now a grant will enable her achieve that. The Walmart basis and Area Initiatives Support Company selected RobinHood as 1 of 8 nonprofits nationwide to acquire a lower of $1.5 million dollars.

“I was like, really? How did you get my identify? How did you locate me? And they were like ‘we read about all the wonderful do the job you’re executing,’ said Ashby.

Ashby suggests her system is to use the funding to develop a business kitchen area in Union and mature her nonprofit workers. Utilizing other grant resources, RobinHood also has designs to make additional group gardens, so that new fruit and greens are just a action absent from property.

“We’ll have greenhouses at every single website and so we’ll be ready to improve 12 months-round which is wonderful,” she stated.

Feeding a county, while also serving to the regional overall economy.

“Agriculture is the major industry in South Carolina. Why not make it the most important marketplace in Union County?” reported Ashby.

The farmer’s market place will open up for the year on Saturday June 3rd, 8 am – noon at the Union County YMCA, 106 Lakeside Drive. There will also be a Mental and Bodily Overall health Fair that same day.

Union County’s foodshare plan has regular monthly make box decide on-ups, and accepts SNAP/EBT added benefits. To understand more simply click listed here.

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