Franciscan Health Hammond is sponsoring monthly Mobile Markets by Food Bank of Northwest Indiana at the hospital with the next one from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11.
Each mobile market truck provides attendees with a selection of free grains, fruits, vegetables and protein and feeds approximately 150 to 175 families. The first market was hosted on July 14 and served 119 families for a total of 419 individuals.
The Mobile Market series currently serves as a pilot to a future food prescription program to operate out of Franciscan Health Hammond’s transformed space. In Lake County, 15 percent of the population are food insecure, higher than the Indiana average of 13 percent, and 20 percent of children are food insecure.
The Franciscan Health Dyer/Hammond/Munster Auxiliary made the lead gift toward the Hammond Food Insecurity Initiative, and the Dyer/Hammond/Munster Medical Executive Committee also made a generous contribution. The rest of the gifts totaling $85,000 came from individuals, businesses, Franciscan Health physicians, Franciscan Health Foundation board members and other loyal supporters, according to Rick Peltier, executive director of the Franciscan Health Foundation.
The Mobile Markets take place in the parking lot next to Centier Bank across from Franciscan Health Hammond, 5454 Hohman Ave. To maintain COVID safety protocols, all markets flow as a drive-thru and are staffed with Franciscan Health volunteers. The markets are first come, first served while supplies last.
Future Mobile Market dates at Franciscan Health Hammond are Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8. For more information, visit foodbanknwi.org.
