Gleaners transforms ‘food pantry’ image into a market look

By Dennis Archambault
The proposed “retail pantry” concept by Gleaners to present fresh food in South Oakland County communities with high food insecurity and malnutrition (https://www.gcfb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019_0819-Gleaners-to-Pilot-New-Fresh-Market-Pantry-Concept-Crains.pdf) is a creative advance in this sector. In positioning this option in the county, the region is reminded that food insecurity and other aspects of poverty exist in many communities outside of those traditionally associated with low income populations like Detroit and Pontiac.

The artist rendering of the Gleaners market instills pride among low income people who will shop as though they were purchasing goods at Meijer or Kroger’s. “If we want to encourage consumption of healthy fresh produce, folks have to have access to it,” notes Julie Beamer, Gleaners COO. Of course, access means they can get to it. Transportation is as relevant an issue to low income households of Oakland County as it is to those in Wayne County.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health