Green City Market
Green City Market (GCM) was founded on a mission to improve the health of local communities. Manierre Elementary School is located in Old Town and 97% of its families are considered low income. While there is a grocery store in the neighborhood, spending money on healthy food is out of the reach of most of these families. The Edible Education Program was piloted by GCM last year and seeks to move students at risk for illness/lack of nutrition to a place of food security and confidence through a school garden; education about nutrition and sustainability; and Family Nights Out. This program provides healthy food in each cooking class and teaches 100 sixth through eighth grade students and ultimately families, how to grow healthy food in their school and at their homes. This access to food and knowledge about how to become more self-reliant for their food needs empowers them for life.