Every year, the Thursday after Thanksgiving marks a day that inspires generosity across the world- GivingTuesday.
Through sharing acts of kindness and giving your voice, time, money, foods, and advocacy to support different communities and causes, GivingTuesday reimagines a world built on shared humanity and generosity.
GivingTuesday was created in 2021 and was based on the simple idea of dedicating a day for people to do good. Now, GivingTuesday is an independent nonprofit and a global movement that inspires others to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
In the spirit of GivingTuesday, Growing Places Indy is excited to launch a campaign for its first ever mobile market, the Vegetabus. The Vegetabus will be a mobile market that sells fresh produce grown straight from the farm to neighborhoods around Indianapolis that need better access to affordable fresh, and healthy food. The Vegetabus will provide fresh local food to people from all backgrounds, help bridge the food gap between communities, and create an overall healthier environment.
Growing Places Indy has launched many initiatives to fight food insecurity in Indianapolis, such as the annual Indy Winter Farmers Market, the Indy Night Market festival, a Community Supported Agriculture program, farm apprenticeship programs, and more. Now, the Vegetabus will be another effort to expand food access to Indianapolis residents.
Mobile markets are helpful as they bring fresh produce closer to communities with limited access to healthy, locally-sourced foods. All produce will be sourced from Growing Places Indy’s farm. The Vegetabus will travel to organizations, churches and schools, communities in the Near Eastside, Riverside, Fall Creek, and communities identified as a food desert.
To create the mobile market, a Type A bus will be converted to store an abundance of fresh produce. The bus renovations will include implementing refrigeration, shelving, electrical upgrades, painting, and more.
As part of the GivingTuesday movement, Growing Places Indy has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the Vegetabus to life with the goal of raising $15,000 by January 28, 2022. If successful, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) will provide a matching grant as part of its CreatINg Places program.
Growing Places Indy strives to create a healthy and thriving community by providing easier access to fresh food, and creating a mobile market will only further the reach to communities that need more affordable and healthier options. Take part in GivingTuesday and contribute to the Vegetabus campaign at www.patronicity.com/mobilemarketgpi.
To learn more about GivingTuesday and how you can contribute, click here.