Community Food Markets Needs You
Dear Friends,
Community Foods Market in West Oakland needs your help.
When it first opened in Spring of 2019, it was the first full-service grocery store in West Oakland since the 1970s. But it is more than a grocery store — the importance of Community Foods Market as a community anchor that supports social connections and the health of local families proved to be essential when the pandemic hit.
Almost immediately, they started accepting electronic benefit transfer cards (EBTs), which are used for food stamps and other government-issued benefits, for online ordering. They also offered free delivery for seniors ages 65 and up in certain West Oakland neighborhoods, with orders also taken online or over the phone, paying with EBT. For a limited time, they were even able to provide 50% off for all EBT users.
However, as the pandemic continued, its economic impact on Community Foods Market started to take a toll. Record job losses for West Oakland residents means less ability to purchase food. Community safety issues mean residents do not want to venture outside their homes to shop. Higher wholesale food costs result in lower profit margins for Community Foods Market as it seeks to keep prices low for customers.
Now they are struggling to stay open. Here is how you can help:
- Sign up and become a Booster and commit to shopping in-store or online at least once a month.
- Get five (5) of your friends and family to do the same.
- Spread the word – Community Foods Market will send you graphics and templates to spread the word on social media, email or text and will give you referral cards to distribute to friends and family.
- For every referral card you drop off, you will be entered into a weekly drawing to win a $200 gift card for groceries.
Before Community Foods Market, no other grocer wanted to go into this food desert. Instead, the neighborhood had been overridden with corner stores and liquor stores. Its owner, Brahm Ahmed, listened to the community – that the number one amenity they desired for their neighborhood was a grocery store.
Years ago, EBALDC started working closely with Brahm because we shared in his belief that resident access to healthy foods in their own neighborhood was important. Brahm and the entire Community Food Market team delivered. Now they need you. Join us to ensure they continue to serve as a community anchor.
In Community,
Andy Madeira
CEO