New Rochelle’s Bloom Healthy pop-up helps those who are food insecure
A new grocery pop-up has opened in New Rochelle with a mission to help those who are food insecure.
Bloom Healthy, at 595 Main St. in the Center for the Arts building, is the brainchild of Marion Henson, a Mount Vernon resident who wanted to make healthy food more affordable — and more accessible — especially in and near food deserts.
Her boxes of fresh, organic produce are customizable and offer a “pay it forward with kindness” option, which encourages people to gift healthy food to a family in need.
The idea of offering fresh veggies, fruits, mushrooms and herbs, came from Henson’s own experiences with food insecurity in 2017 when her husband lost his job of 10 years and she had just given birth to their third child.
“There are a lot of people that fall off the radar,” she said. “People like us who may not qualify for a food program.”
Similarly, she said, there are people who may not have time — because they’re working two or even, three jobs — to stand in line for a food bank.
And, there’s also an issue of pride.
“No one really talks about it,” she said, “You could be sitting in your office with your co-worker and think everything’s fine, but that person may only be having one meal a day.”
Her program, she hopes, will help alleviate those worries.
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She is open as of July 14 (until 5 p.m.) and then from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays thereafter.
Options include a Giant Bloom box that serves three to six and includes 18 items and a Little Bloom that feeds one to three and includes 12 items. Customers who pay for those boxes — the Giant Bloom is $50; the Little Bloom is $35 — are encouraged to pay it forward and buy for those Henson has in her database as food insecure. (Henson has already identified families by reaching out to local churches and schools but encourages others to apply directly on the website. Income is not a deterrent, she stressed, as there are many factors that go into food insecurity issues.)
On the menu (though subject to change): Organic blueberries, bananas, mangos, avocado, asparagus, cucumbers, herbs and a variety of mushrooms including portobello and shitake.
A few minutes into her first day, Henson’s smile was almost as large as her boxes. The idea to do this, she said, began long before her own food insecurity issues — she’s worked at soup kitchens before and also volunteered at Feeding Westchester — but she didn’t have the support system to put it into place.
Thanks, however, to a jumpstart from the Westchester County Office of Economic Development’s Launch1000 program, which provides education and mentoring to county residents at no cost, she was able to benefit from a new partnership with Kiva, a microlending organization which allows “launchers” to apply for zero-interest loans. Other interested residents have until July 15th to apply for the 2021 program.
Henson plans to adjust her hours and her offerings as she goes (and grows). She also hopes to expand to other food insecure areas. For now, Bloom Healthy will be at its New Rochelle location until Sept. 15.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.
