Eskenazi Health opens a mobile food pantry to increase access to nutritious food

Indianapolis, Indiana – The Fresh for You Market on Wheels held its official debut on Tuesday at Eskenazi Health.

To remove obstacles to acquiring healthy food, Indianapolis’ mobile grocery store pantry will be positioned at various sites around the city.

Fresh for You Market on Wheels will provide reasonably priced fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen proteins, veggies, milk, bread, pantry essentials, and more thanks to a partnership with Kroger Co.

The voucher program, for which patients may be eligible if they are assessed as having food insecurity during their clinical visit, will benefit from the traditional sale earnings. Patients will be able to purchase for food items at no cost with the voucher.

Former city buses from IndyGo were donated to create the Fresh for You Market on Wheels. A chef will cook food to order in the kitchen, which is equipped with refrigerators, freezers, supermarket shelves, a filtration system, and other amenities.

Live cooking demonstrations will be conducted by the onboard chef to teach how to use onboard ingredients in a range of dishes.

The mobile grocery shop is open every day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following sites for Indiana residents to visit:

• Monday: Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, 3171 N. Meridian St.
• Tuesday: Eskenazi Health Center West 38th Street, 5515 W. 38th St.
• Wednesday: Eskenazi Health Center Forest Manor, 3840 N. Sherman Dr.
• Thursday: Community Alliance of the Far Eastside, 8902 E. 38th St.
• Friday: Edna Martin Christian Center, 2605 E. 25th St.

“Good food is good medicine, and we know that nutrition is often the key to not only preventing, but in some cases even reversing chronic disease,” said Lisa Harris, M.D., CEO of Eskenazi Health, in a release. “The Eskenazi Health Fresh for You Market on Wheels helps make nutritious food accessible and affordable to our patients and communities across the city. We are excited to bring the Fresh for You Market on Wheels to neighborhoods across the city and look forward to seeing its positive impacts.”