Through the last several months, I've been on a personal wellness project to develop healthier foundations in living: reducing stress, eating wholesome tasty foods and sharing some of what I've learned with others. This week I had the opportunity to share one of my favorite meal hacks, Jar Salads, with the customers at the Jamestown Mobile Market, a project of the Jamestown Renaissance Corp.
With the help of the JRC staff and a large group of volunteers, the Mobile Market reaches a minimum of 100 people weekly. The Mobile Food Truck customers receive fresh, local produce with the use of free $5.00 coupons or can be purchased at a rate of $1.00 per item. Last summer, the Mobile Market was only and idea on paper and this summer it's been a distinct joy seeing this dream become a reality. The idea of the mobile market is quite simple: bring local produce to people living in "food-desert" neighborhoods. The USDA defines a "food desert" as: "Parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers." Jamestown's Mobile Market has been a partnership with JRC, individual volunteers, and various organization sites
that host the weekly program: Conduit Church, Crestline Villa, The Gateway Center, The Salvation Army and Tree of Life Lutheran Church.
On a personal level, I'm learning that making changes for improved health and wellness it involves: compassion, creativity, practice using new tools, and a sense of community. A simple switch to prepping my lunches in common Mason Jars, is helping to make healthy change possible.
So this begs the question, "If this is possible on a personal level, what is possible on a grander scale?"
By combining the gifts and energy of professionals, volunteers, farmers, supportive sharing organizations and customers with their time, energy and resources; it's impressive what can be accomplished. I've seen it with my own eyes in the example of the 2018 Jamestown Mobile Food Truck Program. Thank you to all who support this effort and who made this idea a reality that brings life to the full to our community - and to me.
Be well,
P. Tara L. Eastman
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