Mobile Market marks year of bringing fresh food to Lexington neighborhoods

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - For a year now, the city of Lexington's Mobile Market has brought fresh, affordable food to communities that lack access.

For those who use it, they say it's been a blessing on wheels. Every week it rotates through 22 different stops in Lexington.

"It's a blessing, you know? Some of these people are just not as fortunate as other people," said Mary Dobson, who uses the Mobile Market.

It's considered a rolling food oasis.

"I get pot pies, eggs, bacon. everything!" said Randall Lewis, another Mobile Market user.

One of the Mobile Market's stops is at the Emerson Center. It comes every Friday.

"First time i got on there i was just tickled to death," said Dobson. "It was just like, 'iIt's got everything on here i need!'"

This joy, felt at dozens of sites all over town.

"Food access in our community is something that really would improve health outcomes for individuals in marginalized communities," said Tiffany Brown, Lexington's equity and implementation officer.

Brown says this was the driving force behind making it come to life. Since the market went into operation, it's had over $100,000 in sales.

"Roughly a third of the customers who use this market are on snap benefits, food stamps," said Mike Halligan, CEO of God's Pantry Food Bank.

Leaders say it's visited 46 different sites in the last year.

"it helps everybody," Lewis.

Dobson says she doesn't have a car.

"I've had to really worry about having to get to the store or not get to the store," Dobson said.

However, not anymore because she says she can always count on the market.

"It's been wonderful. it's so much more convenient for me," Dobson said.

Not only did people get to choose from the usual healthy food options and household items, Friday, but they also got a frozen turkey as we're just a few weeks shy of Thanksgiving.

"It is now a model around the country for improving food access," said Brown.

The Mobile Market rolls through every Tuesday through Saturday.