Good Samaritan project helps put homeless to work
By Lauren Parker- Gill, News Editor, The Times
The Nourish Mobile Market has made 176 stops in just six months, at senior centers, local YMCAs and other locations throughout Chester County. Photo courtesy of Nourish Mobile Market.
PHOENIXVILLE – The Nourish Mobile Market, also called a mobile farmers market, has been making its way around Chester County, bringing fresh produce, staple grocery items and local gourmet specialties to those who have limited mobility or lack access to healthier items.
In 2014, the Good Samaritan Shelter in Phoenixville, a nonprofit shelter for men, wanted to start a business that would employ residents of their shelter, which has six properties in northern Chester County. Doing so would help their residents get back on their feet, while enabling them to earn money and gain useful skills.
With the goals of serving the community by improving access to healthy foods, employing residents of the shelter and delivering food education to the community through farmers and nutritionists, the idea for the Nourish Mobile Market was loosely based on other mobile markets around the nation.
Keith Misner, a six-year volunteer with the Good Samaritan Shelter and business manager of the Nourish Mobile Market, said the shelter took a huge leap of faith when deciding upon this business venture. They have invested approximately $200,000 through grants, donations and a long-term, no interest loan.
Jon Termini of Phoenixville was the first resident of the Good Samaritan Shelter to be hired for the Nourish Mobile Market. Photo courtesy of: Nourish Mobile Market.
“Nourish relies on donations, grants and corporate sponsorships,” said Keith Misner, who is the business manager for the Nourish Mobile Market. “They are critical to the financial sustainability of this business.”
After securing the financing, they hired their first employee in August 2015, 24-year-old Jon Termini. Termini, who is homeless and a resident of the shelter, began developing the point of sale system, inventory system and made connections with vendors in the community.
“It’s a great resume builder and helps build self-confidence.” Termini said.
The Nourish Market took to the road in September and visits senior centers, corporate centers, underprivileged areas and has partnered with the YMCAs of Chester County. As of press time, the Nourish truck has made 176 stops, sold 9,327 pounds of produce and provided 1,082 hours of employment. There are currently three employees from the shelter, who work 30 – 40 hours per week.
This traveling food truck offers a full selection of fruits, vegetables, staple grocery items and local gourmet treats to all customers, while employing homeless men of the Good Samaritan Shelter. Photo courtesy of Nourish Mobile Market.
In the offseason, most of the produce is purchased from Kegels Produce in Lancaster though Nourish is committed to supporting local farmers during the appropriate seasons as often as possible.
In addition to fresh produce, the mobile market also offers staple grocery items, such as cereal, soup, rice, cheese, eggs and milk. Local gourmet items such as honey, granola, vegan cookies and nut butters are also available. All items are competitively priced with local supermarkets.
Just like typical grocery stores, the mobile market accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. They have also just been SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) approved – meaning they can now accept federally funded payments as well.
In addition, there is a pay it forward jar at the register. Customers are able to add spare change or make donations to be used for other customers who do not have enough money for their purchase.
Now that Termini has been working on the Nourish truck for just over six months and been living at the Good Samaritan Shelter for about a year, he has been able to save enough money to go back to school and begin looking for an apartment. With hopes of opening his own restaurant some day, Termini spoke highly of his time at the shelter and his work with Nourish:
“I’m very happy to have been working with this program since its inception.” Termini said. “They say you can’t find something you love and get paid for it…well I can tell you, you can.”
For more information about the Nourish Mobile Market and to view the schedule, please visit: http://www.nourishmobile.org/
