A new store in Florida is providing food free of charge. Now, dinner can come without a grocery bill for local families experiencing food insecurity.
Here's what to know
The Desire Foundation has converted its former food pantry into the Parramore Market, the first micro grocery store in Orlando, according to local news outlet WESH.
Patrons can shop for bread, eggs, dairy, meat, vegetables, and fruit in a setting modeled after a conventional grocery store. Supporting dignity is central to the approach of the new market serving the city's Parramore neighborhood.
More background
Access to fresh food is a concern in Parramore.
"When we talk about community, and then we talk about family empowerment," Kenneth Hughes, executive director of the nonprofit Parramore Main Street District, told WESH.
Long considered a food desert, the area also has a rich history. According to the nonprofit, the neighborhood is Orlando's oldest and largest historically African American neighborhood.
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"If the people in a neighborhood actually don't have access to fresh fruit, fresh food, how do they sustain community?" Hughes posed. "How does your family grow if they're starving at night?"
WESH reported that the Desire Foundation had previously distributed hundreds of thousands of pounds of food under an earlier initiative, before the market opened.
"For the people of Parramore, this is a gold mine," Hughes said.
What's more?
Eligibility isn't limited to Parramore residents — it extends to everyone living in Central Florida.
Before shopping, visitors must sign up for a free market card, valid for two trips to the store each month.
But the market needs volunteers and donations to keep running. People interested in shopping, contributing, or volunteering can learn more at the foundation's website.
Where can I learn more?
Parramore Market is just one of a number of free grocery stores and food pantries helping Florida families put food on the table:
• In Northwest Florida, weekly food pantry trips are becoming routine as SNAP cuts bite.
• In Port Richey, a Salvation Army pantry served 100 people in just three hours.
• In Osceola County, mobile pantry demand jumped 68%, prompting the Salvation Army to seek help.
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