Good morning! We hope that you enjoyed the gorgeous weekend … things sure are bustling with end-of-the-year activities at schools, family picnics, community sports events and more. And Pathfinder Produce is here to help by offering a convenient, affordable and friendly shopping experience. Come and shop for all your produce needs this Thursday, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pathfinder Village Commons.
Just a few notes to mention:
- The Community Potluck Dinner for the Edmeston Rotary
and Rotary Community Corp will be at the Pathfinder Village Pavilion on
Wednesday, June 19 at
5:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share, your ideas about community events,
and learn about some great things that are happening in and about
Edmeston!
- Pathfinder School’s Graduation will feature four
seniors this year, and will take place on Friday, June 21, at 1 p.m. Join us at the Pathfinder Gym for a joyous celebration of scholastic achievement and growth!
- Pathfinder
Produce will be closed on Thursday, July 4 so that our ADS members and staff may enjoy Independence Day with their families. Plan ahead for your
produce needs to celebrate America’s 243rd birthday!
Pathfinder’s culture is rooted in human interest stories that
reveal individual potential and celebrate the gifts of community. In this
week’s post, my colleague Sally Trosset shares just one of the many great
stories of Pathfinder lore.
***
Pathfinder’s
new Mobile Market van has hit the road! Perhaps you have seen it making its way
through the main streets and byways of Otsego County. It’s hard to miss …
a large box truck, crisp white in color, wrapped in a bright veggie-rich
graphic with the Pathfinder Produce logo. It’s truly an amazing
story!
The
new Pathfinder Mobile Market vehicle was funded as part of a grant received in
late 2018 from the Leatherstocking
Collaborative Health Partners. This grant award partners Pathfinder
Village and the Bassett Research Institute through a program that is now
providing fruit and vegetable vouchers to eligible families throughout Otsego
County.
The
Mobile Market and voucher program are extensions of earlier collaborations
between Pathfinder and Bassett Healthcare Network. Working with the
Bassett’s 5210 Program, Pathfinder opened its weekly produce market in 2013 to
improve local access to fresh foods. Building off the successful and popular
market, the partners later offered a pilot fruit and vegetable prescription
program, underwritten by a grant from the Greater Utica American Heart
Association. Voucher redemption rates averaged 94% and over half of the
recipients continued purchasing fruits and vegetables after the close of the
pilot program.
The
Mobile Market concept was the next step solution to reach more individuals in
more rural areas of the county or for those who do not drive or have access to
a vehicle. Research
shows that mobile markets help remove the barriers of limited access and
transportation in underserved areas to increase consumption of fruits and
vegetables.
Fast
forward a few short months: Pathfinder Produce is on the road three days per
week and has made nearly 600 deliveries. We have a waiting list for
people interested in receiving produce vouchers, and a list of organizations
who hope to partner with us!
In
addition to removing barriers of access and transportation to support our
neighbors, the Mobile Market also provides meaningful employment for
individuals with developmental disabilities. Members of the Pathfinder
Adult Day Services program are involved in all aspects of the operation,
including food cultivation, packaging, deliveries, and sales/marketing. They
create “Feel Good Food Boxes” (similar to ‘Hello Fresh’ or ‘Blue Apron’
branding) that are delivered to voucher recipients. This weekly
distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables also includes several recipe cards,
healthy fact sheets, and a personal note with artwork, all prepared by our
Adult Day Service participants.
Pathfinder
Produce and the Mobile Market are innovative, win-win solutions for all:
Proud ADS members, often under-represented in the workforce, now have enriching
work and training opportunities; members of the community who do not have
access to fresh fruits and vegetables are now receiving deliveries right to
their doorstep. Stay tuned for more good news on this successful service that
supports community!
Until
next time, eat well and be well!
Sally (and Lori)
Chris and Cheryl get ready for their Thursday morning deliveries in Otsego County with the new Mobile Market van.
