ATLANTIC CITY – AtlantiCare’s new Community Mobile Market Truck got a boost earlier this month with a combined donation of $50,000 from former State Sen. William Gormley and philanthropist Lee Levine, Esq.
AtlantiCare President and CEO Michael J. Charlton accepted the donations on behalf of the AtlantiCare Foundation during a special event held Aug. 7 at AtlantiCare’s Medical Arts Pavilion on Ohio Avenue.
The Mobile Market Truck debuted earlier this year under sponsorship of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to increase access to fresh, healthy, affordable meals in Atlantic City and help reduce the rate of food insecurity in underserved communities.
The mobile market truck was created in response to the lack of a grocery store in Atlantic City. It aims to ensure residents, especially those on the north end of the island with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables, can enjoy a diet complete with nutritionally rich food at an affordable price.
Spurred by an interest in reducing the burden of diabetes in the community, Gormley and Levine’s donation will support the procurement of diabetic-friendly foods, development and distribution of diabetic-friendly recipes to go along with market items available, and will underwrite “Produce by Prescription” vouchers. The vouchers will benefit Atlantic City’s at risk individuals who are impacted by diabetes.
The donations will allow the market truck to expand its fresh market offerings at the four locations it visits.
AtlantiCare works with local retailers and farmers to procure the items offered on the truck.
To date, the mobile market has had nearly 300 transactions, enabling residents to purchase the necessary essentials to support a healthy diet; 31% of sales are fruits and vegetables with more than 1,000 produce items sold. The most popular fruits are bananas, oranges, peaches and lemons; and the most popular vegetables are yellow corn, potatoes, onions and a variety of peppers.
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