As a response to the pandemic, the Reva and David Logan Foundation launched what was supposed to be a short-term food distribution program, yet the need for high quality, nutritious fruits and vegetables has only grown. We continue to remain committed to providing these vital and healthy goods to our neighbors. Last year, our Fresh Produce Program supported 121 pop-up distributions throughout more than 17 Chicago south and west side neighborhoods and communities.
While most of our work in the program consists of working directly with farmers and organizations, a unique opportunity arose between two of our partners. The Bloc has provided a free food distribution to their local community twice a month for a couple of years, but they found that they no longer had capacity to prepare the goods for distribution. With the Foundation’s support, they teamed up with our partner Dion’s Chicago Dream (DCD), who now prepares the 400+ fresh produce boxes for The Bloc’s pop-ups.
Everyone’s collective efforts ensure the success of the partnership. Feedback is collected from clients to ensure the most culturally appropriate food is provided. Grapes, for example, were increased recently after youth enthusiastically expressed appreciation for having crisp, delicious grapes included as healthy treats in school lunches and snacks. We have also adjusted the start times of pop-ups to prevent long wait times and ensure the community feels safe when receiving their boxes.
“The impact on the community has been amazing,” said The Bloc’s Director of Operations, Carla Arias-Chavez. “Many people are excited to receive the boxes, as they truly rely on them as a consistent source of fresh produce. It is with pride that we distribute Dion’s boxes, knowing they make such a difference. On our end, handing off the production of these boxes to an organization that has the expertise in this very thing has been a great decision on our end. By saving significant time and resources, we’ve been able to reinvest in the community and expand our growing footprint.”