Produce Market Helps Low Income Households

by JW Dennison

ZANESVILLE, OH – Eastside Community Ministry, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, and the First Baptist Church are coming together to help low income families meet nutritional needs.

The three organizations are hosting the Free Fresh Produce Market  this Friday at the First Baptist Church in South Zanesville. Pre-registration is required by 4 p.m. this Thursday with enough produce to assist up to 200 households.

“Generally, we do have at least 200 as sometimes we have people that aren’t able to show up. If that happens and we have extra produce, if that happens we will take it back to East Side and give it out the following Monday,” said Jamie Trout, the executive director of Eastside Community Ministry.

You can register by calling 211 or by visiting FreshTrak.com After you have registered for the produce market, you will only need to bring an ID and have room for your vehicle for a large box of produce which will be loaded into the car by volunteers.

“Hunger is something that a lot of people in our area struggle with. It is a misconception that it’s just people with children but it’s not. We serve a lot of senior citizens. At this particular event we help at least 75% of the people are senior citizens and so it means a lot for us to be able to take that stress. No one should go without eating and being able to be a part of that is very fulfilling,” Trout said.

After this Friday, the next Free Fresh Produce Market will take place on June 28 and again on Sept. 27. More information about the produce market can be found by visiting Eastside Community Ministry’s website at EastsideMinistry.Org or by visiting their Facebook page.