Since 2012, For All has participated in a community led Really (Really) Free Market model of free grocery sharing in Seattle. The Cascade Really Free Market, held every Sunday at 1:30pm rain or shine in Cascade Park in SLU, started over a decade ago and continues to this day. In this model, volunteer community organizers pick up surplus food that would have otherwise been thrown away from grocery retailers and transport it directly to a public distribution point. Food is taken directly from commercial refrigeration to distribution, cutting out the need for maintaining food bank buildings, refrigerated holding systems, and staff and volunteer time used for handling food for future distribution. The pre-COVID Really Free Market model is that, after food pickup and transport to the distribution point, participants help unload vehicles and set up shopping stations. After setup is complete, participants say “thank you” all together and begin freely shopping from boxes at the same time. Then everyone helps clean up. The entire process from start to finish takes no more than 2 hours on a normal day. This saves everyone time and resources. It makes it possible for surplus food to be distributed at its freshest possible state from the point of pickup. It engages the community in the process of mutual aid and food access. It’s quick, easy, and accessible to many community members as an alternative to traditional food banks. It also fills a gap in food recovery on weekends and holidays that traditional Monday-Friday food banks and meal programs cannot accommodate. Of course, the model has been adapted to accommodate COVID restrictions in order to maintain safe social distancing practices. At this time, shoppers wait in line and volunteers hand food to each person as they go through the line. The hope is that after the pandemic is over, Really Free Markets will be able to return to their original, highly efficient model of distribution.
In March 2021, For All was asked to regularly pick up grocery store surplus from a retailer that was just opening up for business in Capitol Hill, and who needed the surplus food picked up during irregular hours on Saturdays. We accepted the food pickup and used it to reopen a Really Free Market distribution that had shut down previously due to construction issues and stayed closed because of COVID. For All hosts a Really Free Market outdoor grocery giveaway every Saturday morning from 8-9A in the plaza of the Yesler Community Center that serves the Yesler, International District, and First Hill neighborhoods as well as the Seattle community at large. We are able to offer safe, in person volunteer opportunities every week for community members who meet early to help unload the vehicle directly after pickup from the grocery retailer and safely distribute groceries to shoppers. At Really Free Markets, households can access a wide variety of fresh (often organic) fruits and vegetables, prepared meals, vegan protein substitutes, animal based products, specialty items, and a variety of breads and grains. Shoppers take home an average of $75 of grocery savings when visiting the Really Free Market and helping to prevent food and its packaging from going to landfills.
For All relies on volunteers and community supporters whose values align with our mission to show support through investment in our organization. A monthly financial pledge of support to For All helps to offset your carbon footprint and supports For All’s operational costs including vehicle maintenance, insurance, volunteer management, and facility rental.
In March 2021, For All was asked to regularly pick up grocery store surplus from a retailer that was just opening up for business in Capitol Hill, and who needed the surplus food picked up during irregular hours on Saturdays. We accepted the food pickup and used it to reopen a Really Free Market distribution that had shut down previously due to construction issues and stayed closed because of COVID. For All hosts a Really Free Market outdoor grocery giveaway every Saturday morning from 8-9A in the plaza of the Yesler Community Center that serves the Yesler, International District, and First Hill neighborhoods as well as the Seattle community at large. We are able to offer safe, in person volunteer opportunities every week for community members who meet early to help unload the vehicle directly after pickup from the grocery retailer and safely distribute groceries to shoppers. At Really Free Markets, households can access a wide variety of fresh (often organic) fruits and vegetables, prepared meals, vegan protein substitutes, animal based products, specialty items, and a variety of breads and grains. Shoppers take home an average of $75 of grocery savings when visiting the Really Free Market and helping to prevent food and its packaging from going to landfills.
For All relies on volunteers and community supporters whose values align with our mission to show support through investment in our organization. A monthly financial pledge of support to For All helps to offset your carbon footprint and supports For All’s operational costs including vehicle maintenance, insurance, volunteer management, and facility rental.
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