May 15, 2009 10:46 pm US/Central
Program Makes Healthy Food More Affordable For All
(WCCO)
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For $10 people can get a vegetable pack. A combo fruit, veggie and meat deal is $17. It's a lot of food for little money.
CBS
Almost everyone is trying to save money these days, especially when it comes to the grocery bill.
A program called "
Fare For All Express" is helping to give Minnesotans are really good deal on meat, fruits and vegetables. Best of all, it's for anyone who want to stretch their dollars.
Fare For All Express has been around for two years, but recently more folks are taking advantage of the good deals.
"Our numbers have gone up a lot in the last couple months. I would say we've doubled, for sure, in the last three months, at most of our sites," said Sophia Lenarz-Coy, a Fare For All outreach coordinator.
"I'm recently widowed so my income is a little lower," said Sue Johnson.
Like many people, she's struggling to make ends meet.
"Basically what I did is I got the vegetables and the meat pack," said Johnson. "Oh, I don't think you can beat the prices on the food and the vegetables and the meat."
Fare For All Organizers bring their truck to different sites every month for two hours. All customers have to do is show up with cash, a credit card or an EBT card and buy all the food they want.
Everybody qualifies. It doesn't matter how much money they make. Program organizers say they saw a need to provide the deals.
"Meats and fruits and veggies are the things that people first cut out of their grocery budget when they are struggling, and so we know they are the most nutritious parts of our diet so we try to make sure we can offer them at an affordable cost," said Lenarz-Coy.
For $10 people can get a vegetable pack. A combo fruit, veggie and meat deal is $17. It's a lot of food for little money.
"A pork tenderloin, a couple of turkey roast, couple packages of Golden Plump skinnless chicken breast, turkey franks, lunchmeat, bacon, the list goes on," said Lenarz-Coy. "Our fruits and veggies are totally fresh, it's not like we're getting seconds from the grocery stores. We're buying from wholesalers, really fresh, good quality produce."
There's always a monthly special that runs anywhere from $22 to $25. The May deal is meat.
"We're eating well and we're affording it," said Johnson.
The program keeps its prices low because it buys in bulk and at wholesale prices. There's also no huge overhead because it's mostly run by volunteers.
"It's getting us food that we wouldn't be getting otherwise," said Kris Lamarca. She has two teenagers and times are kind of tough.
"I think it's great, perfect timing, when your hours get cut at work and all of the sudden you're trying to figure out how to pay for groceries this is a great opportunity," added Lamarca.
"If you feel like you need to save money, it's for you" said Lenarz-Coy.
There's also a program for folks outside the metro. You have to sign up and purchase the food ahead of time.
Sonya Goins, Producer Contact Sonya
Emergency Food Shelf Network: Fare For All
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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