Pop-Up market offers free food

By Ellah Tellez

LOGOS STAFF WRITER

University of the Incarnate Word students, staff and faculty took home free fresh fruit and vegetables Wednesday, April 24, courtesy of the San Antonio Food Bank.

In an initiative aimed at tackling food insecurity within the UIW community, the Ettling Center for Civic Engagement and Advocacy partnered with the food bank on a first-ever, Pop-Up Food Market.

The six-hour, Friendship Garden event, held in collaboration with the Cardinals Cupboard food pantry, marked a significant step towards addressing the nutritional needs of the UIW community, according to the Ettling Center.

The food market featured an array of fresh produce and pantry staples from baby Persian cucumbers, large cabbages, to crisp green bell peppers, attendees had access to a variety of nutritious options to supplement their meals. In addition to produce, the market offered canned goods, beans, pasta, and soft drinks, catering to diverse dietary preferences.

“We don’t pick the produce -- the food bank does,” said Mayra Levy, assistant director of civic engagement and advocacy at the Ettling Center. “But our aim is to provide a wide selection of items to meet the needs of our community.”

The event also served as a platform for promoting sustainability initiatives, with damaged or bruised produce

earmarked for composting through the sustainability program for the community garden near the Gorman Building. By diverting food waste from landfills and using it for composting, the food market not only addressed food insecurity but also contributed to environmental conservation efforts.

“We saw there was a growing need for additional resources for the UIW community,” Levy said. “We wanted to align with our mission of service and be a service to our greater community.”

FYI

For those interested in volunteering or contributing to initiatives sponsored by the Ettling Center for Civic Engagement and Sustainability, e-mail Mayra Levi at mcarbaja@uiwtx.edu

To stay informed about upcoming Pop-Up Markets, @uiweccl on Instagram.