A new community market designed to tackle food insecurity in Mernda has been set up with the help of Goodstart Early Learning’s Jindi Kindergarten and Extended Care.
The Community Grocer launched its weekly fruit and vegetable market at Mernda Central College on Thursday last week, offering locals produce at low prices.
A partnership between The Community Grocer, the new school, Goodstart Jindi, Whittlesea Council and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the market aims to help people in the community struggling with rising food bills.
Jindi integrated child and family manager Lesley Czulowski said the launch followed Jindi’s commitment to offer enhanced services for children and families.
“Because of our strong partnerships in this community we are dedicated to helping those in the need. Mernda is an area with a high level of food insecurity and so The Community Grocer was a good fit.”
Other Community Grocer markets have also been established in Fawkner and Carlton.
“Every Thursday from 9am-noon, volunteers from our centre and the wider community gather to offer food that is just above the cost price,” Ms Czulowski said.
“It’s also a community engagement activity where we’ll ask other organisations such as Maternal and Child Health Services to come down and talk to people and give out information.”
The Jindi kindergarten children will be able to visit the market in coming weeks.
“We are big supporters of healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle at the Jindi kindergarten and the fruit and vegetable markets really support that,” Ms Czulowski.
“This is a high mortgage stress area. In this community we have access to only one big supermarket so having access to cheaper fresh fruit and vegetables gives parents options.”
The Community Grocer launched its weekly fruit and vegetable market at Mernda Central College on Thursday last week, offering locals produce at low prices.
A partnership between The Community Grocer, the new school, Goodstart Jindi, Whittlesea Council and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the market aims to help people in the community struggling with rising food bills.
Jindi integrated child and family manager Lesley Czulowski said the launch followed Jindi’s commitment to offer enhanced services for children and families.
“Because of our strong partnerships in this community we are dedicated to helping those in the need. Mernda is an area with a high level of food insecurity and so The Community Grocer was a good fit.”
Other Community Grocer markets have also been established in Fawkner and Carlton.
“Every Thursday from 9am-noon, volunteers from our centre and the wider community gather to offer food that is just above the cost price,” Ms Czulowski said.
“It’s also a community engagement activity where we’ll ask other organisations such as Maternal and Child Health Services to come down and talk to people and give out information.”
The Jindi kindergarten children will be able to visit the market in coming weeks.
“We are big supporters of healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle at the Jindi kindergarten and the fruit and vegetable markets really support that,” Ms Czulowski.
“This is a high mortgage stress area. In this community we have access to only one big supermarket so having access to cheaper fresh fruit and vegetables gives parents options.”