For those living in areas with limited access, getting to food can be harder than affording it.

Modern food banks are pivoting from distributing free food to setting up grocery-store-like models, albeit charging minimal fees. These low-cost groceries cater to people who can afford some food but lack the facilities to buy it. Sophia Lenarz – Coy of The Food Group emphasizes while free food is crucial, addressing limited retail options has value, “Free food is critical and it’s an important safety, but we need to look at the retail landscape too. For us, it’s just been really important to think about both models, not remotely in competition with one another, but as responding to the needs that households have.”

The Food Group’s “Fare for All” venture, a mobile grocery service offering up to 40% off on produce and meats, relies on bulk buying to offer these discounts. With simple offerings like a $25 meat pack or a $10 produce pack the program involves no pre-ordering or a la carte shopping. It’s open to all, ensuring maximum buying power and reducing potential stigma. “You just show up,” Lenarz-Coy said. “It’s very simple.”

The Food Group also launched the Twin Cities Mobile Market, a bus-based grocery store offering groceries at discounts up to 30%. The mobile market caters to urban low-income populations, especially elderly individuals in public housing. Compared to Fare for All, the mobile market prioritizes access over affordability and serves fewer people.

Feeding Tampa Bay has integrated affordable groceries into their healthcare services. Their Groceries on the Go Mobile Pantry helps patients fill their healthy-food prescriptions at discounted prices. The pantry also accepts SNAP, providing an additional $10 for fresh produce. The goal is to give patients access to healthy food, supported by grant funding.

Dare to Care, another food bank, collaborates with Kroger for its Zero Hunger Mobile Market. This partnership ensures a wide variety of food items, with customers getting a 10% discount. The partnership splits responsibilities, with Kroger managing the inside of the store and Dare to Care managing external operations.

The Capital Area Food Bank introduced Curbside Groceries to meet the demands of clients who, despite having money for food, struggled with accessibility and transport. This program not only aims to provide food access but also hopes to demonstrate the demand for healthy groceries in underserved areas. By proving its viability, they hope to attract retailers or entrepreneurs to take this concept mainstream.

As food banks evolve to meet modern challenges, they are innovating to offer more than just free food. By introducing affordable grocery initiatives, these organizations are addressing accessibility issues, ensuring that everyone has fresh and healthy food options.