A hand out. A term for the record, I would like to say is archaic and extraneous.
A passerby often looks onto the long row of pallets of fresh fruit and vegetables, clients holding shopping bags, and perceive to see a hand out before them. I hear all the time, “That’s great you are handing out free fruits and vegetables to those in need!” Defining Fresh Connect in those terms would be unfair because it has grown to be so much more.
The free mobile farmers market which started in April 2017 has hosted over 17,000 visits between its three site locations in Ottsville, Warminster, and Bristol. The program has distributed over 450,000 pounds of fresh produce to hungry neighbors in need in Bucks County.
As the site coordinator, I witnessed week after week a sense of community begin to form. Volunteers knowing clients’ names and stories by heart, clients coming early to talk to their neighbors in line, and photos of delectable dishes being shared amongst participants. The air of excitement is contagious when we arrive on site to see what the nutrionists will be providing a sample of, giving new ideas of what to do with the produce they will receive that day. Fresh Connect suddenly became more than a place to go to get free produce; it became a safe, open space for a community to come together, make new connections, and begin to thrive.
We recently asked clients, “Does Fresh Connect make a difference in your life?” Below are 6 stories of how Fresh Connect gave them a helping hand and provided opportunities for them to thrive.
-
- “I live on about $300.00 per month. I have no heat or hot water, but I’m a pretty tough old lady, so I make due. When I can scrape up the gas money, your fresh produce means everything to us. It’s like Christmas on Fridays, every time I get in line. Thank you, thank all the wonderful volunteers. – Mandy from Lower Bucks”
-
- “The basis of this letter is to thank everyone that makes every Thursday a success. I did not know how I wanted to put this out there, so instead of writing something simple, I decided to make it a note, as notes are of personal nature, which coming to Fresh Connect is for me. Whether it’s spending time in the car with my mom as we drive up to Ottsville, waiting around with folk for the okay to check in and start the pickup process, conversing with the helpers, meeting some of the farmers that come to help out when they have extra to help out those us who need it, even going as far as being able to give some information on what something may be or different use for common fruits or vegetables, it is a sole source for me to just get out and away for a few minutes in my world. I would say this has been a blessing to say the least. And I thank everyone involved for helping me with this. Thank you for helping folks like me and remember that everyone deserves to have something fresh. – Emily from Central Bucks”
-
- “One of the best parts of having produce on hand is that now my youngest son enjoys cooking with me a couple times a week. I love, love, love this special time with him!! Another major impact has been to my own person health. When I started coming to Fresh Connect I was 247lbs, on medication form arthritis, and receiving injections every three months in my knees for years. During the last year I have been able to increase my fruits and veggies and lose some weight. I am now down 63lbs, feeling great, and haven’t needed any injections in over eight months. – Lizzie from Lower Bucks”
-
- “I am eating so much better now that I’ve found Fresh Connect. I get food stamps, and I use them, and I put a lot of thought into how I spend them. But calorie for calorie and practicality wise, I end up buying far less produce than I would like or should. I have to think about getting the biggest bang for my buck, and I shy away from produce every time. It is more expensive that the processed items I can get on sale and with coupons. I can’t risk using my food stamps on an item, or expensive item that may go bad. Having fresh produce {from Fresh Connect} in addition to what I get on my food stamps is a total game changer. I’m eating healthier, feeling healthier, and improving my other health problems, too. – Ruben from Lower Bucks”
-
- “When I went for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I applied for benefits recently and it was a long and harrowing process jumping through different hoops. At Fresh Connect it was completely different! They didn’t pry into my background. They simply saw a person who was worth helping, like so many people who attend, and it was a relief. Fresh Connect is an invaluable resource for our community, not only as individuals but as families. It helps us raise strong, well-nurtured children and it also aids us in our own fitness goals. It also helps build communities by coming to know the people around us. – Randi from Lower Bucks”
-
- “I appear to be in the middle class but I’m struggling. Retired, limited income and not eligible for SNAP. Fresh Connect has been one of the few things I’ve been able to take advantage of. It has been a great, great help. The produce we receive has allowed me to have healthier diet. I’ve lost some weight and my lab work is good. Besides the health benefits Fresh Connect brightens my Thursday mornings. We’re wondering what will be offered and what we hope to find. Whatever is there we will find an old or new way to use it. – Jane from Upper Bucks”
Want to do more to help your hungry neighbors in need? There are two easy ways to embody the Fresh Connect spirit!
1. Volunteer at a Fresh Connect Location
Each site is always in need of 10-15 volunteers. Signing up to volunteer is as easy ask clicking the links below. However, we ask all volunteers to be at least 18 years old and comfortable lifting 30 pounds repeatedly.
Tuesdays in Warminster from 11:30 – 1:30
Thursdays in Ottsville from 10:30 – 12:30
Friday in Bristol from 11:30 – 1:30
2. Plan a Healthy Food Drive
November 10-18 is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. Use the guidelines provided by Hunger Coalition of Bucks County to host your own healthy food drive. BCOC can help pair you to a pantry closest to you.
Amanda Musselman is Food Program Coordinator for Bucks County Opportunity Council. When not pursuing her passion of fighting food insecurity, she can be found hanging out with her pup in the great outdoors.
Fresh Connect Bucks County is a free farmers’ market bringing fresh, healthy food to our hungry neighbors in Bucks County. It returns to the same location on the same day at the same time each week, providing reliable and needed food to the 57,000 Bucks County residents facing hunger, 32% of whom are children. Fresh Connect is a collaboration of Bucks County Opportunity Council, Philabundance, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue and St. Mary Medical Center, with generous funding by United Way of Bucks County. For more information, visit: BCOC.org.