On the heels of a successful inaugural season, the North Royalton Produce Market will continue indoors through the winter months, said Denise Bobulsky, service/volunteer coordinator for Saint Albert the Great Parish.
The monthly market, distributing seasonal fruits, vegetables and other items such as milk and bread to low-income qualifying individuals, is a cooperative effort of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Saint Albert the Great, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, the City of North Royalton, Abundant Life Community Church and additional churches.
Its new winter home will be inside Abundant Life Community Church, located at 10143 Royalton Road in the Royalton Business Park. Dates are set for Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11 and March 10. A new time has been set as well, from 4-5:30 p.m.
Though marketed to local senior citizens, the North Royalton Produce Market is available to anyone from any city who meets the income criteria determined by the federal government poverty guidelines. There is no pre-registration required.
“We started in April with 75 families which is about 150 people we were serving with this market and it gradually grew in August and September with more than 200 individuals participating,” Bobulsky said. “It’s (the produce market) doing what it’s supposed to be doing. We are seeing many families come through.”
The emotional response has been significant as well.
“The people who come to us are truly grateful and comment what a nice thing it is to get this wonderful seasonal produce for free to feed their families. These are produce items they would not normally get,” Bobulsky said. “I’ve heard our seniors saying how nice it is not to have to make a choice between buying needed medications or this seasonal food and to be able to cook with it.”
The Greater Cleveland Foodbank delivers between 2,500 and 3,000 pounds of produce for each monthly market and any excess not given out at the market is distributed to local food pantries, Bobulsky said. Volunteers never know from month-to-month what types of produce and food items will be delivered, but it’s always a healthy assortment of whatever happens to be in season. Volunteers then staff the farmer’s market-style stands and assist shoppers in their choices.
“It did vary, but we saw things like corn, apples, oranges, peaches, nectarines, celery, boxed lettuce, potatoes, eggs and milk,” Bobulsky said. “For the winter months, I’m hoping we’ll see the colder month produce like the winter squash, onions and potatoes.”
With the North Royalton Produce Market’s new time from 4-5:30 p.m., staff is hoping to net a new wave of after-school teenage volunteers either looking to fulfill service hour requirements or perform an act of goodwill.
“Our volunteers have been incredible and all of us involved have been absolutely thrilled at how successful this market has been,” Bobulsky said.
For questions and more information regarding volunteering, individuals are asked to contact Denise Bobulsky at (440) 237-6760 or by email at dbobulsky@saint-albert.org.
By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer