Healthy Neighborhood Store Team members
A dozen residents and community members in Forest Park Southeast have been working hard with Manchester Market to develop the store as a healthier neighborhood grocery store for the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. Together, team members have worked with storeowner Ed Shalabi to bring healthier options into the store, as well as host educational programming including in-store tastings and healthy eating and active living classes at community partner sites.
So far, Midtown Catholic Charities has hosted 3 healthy eating and active living class sessions, and HealthStreet is on its second round of classes; the classes have been so popular, they are now hosting their classes at Adams Park Community Center to accommodate more attendees. (If you or your organization is interested in participating or hosting these workshops, please contact Stephanie at stepco@gmail.com). This summer, healthy eating and cooking classes will also come to youth organizations in the neighborhood, including Mission: St. Louis and Saint Louis Science Center Youth Exploring Science.
The team has also been heading marketing efforts to get residents more aware of the exciting development at Manchester Market, but also to get more resident input on what types of healthy items they would like to see at the store. In addition, this summer, Manchester Market will be selling produce grown next door at Science Corner, grown by youth at Saint Louis Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science program.
The team and Manchester Market will be hosting Healthy Store Kick-Off on Saturday, August 10. The event will include live music, tasting samples, a healthy youth cook-off with partnering youth organizations, healthy resources, and more. Stay tuned for more details.
Forest Park Southeast is now home to several healthy eating initiatives, with youth and adults alike. Partner youth organizations, Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, Mission: St. Louis, Saint Louis Science Center Youth Exploring Science, and Midtown Catholic Charities have incorporated healthy eating, cooking and gardening into their programming and will be participating in this summer’s healthy store kick-off with an inaugural Forest Park Southeast kick-off. Boys & Girls Club is expanding its gardening and healthy eating programming; the organization has partnered with head chef at Joyia Tapas for cooking programming, and has recently received grants for a teaching garden (located at Tower Grove and Vista) and a rain barrel system. Healthy eating and healthy living is a growing priority for the entire Forest Park Southeast neighborhood, including its community youth.
Team members at Science Corner, where Saint Louis Science Center YES program will be growing produce for Manchester Market
In the mean time, be sure to check out Manchester Market’s healthy options. Ask for a punch card; buy 10 produce items and the 11th is free! Manchester Market also offers free deliveries for purchases of $50 or more. Manchester Market is located at 4519 Manchester.
Manchester Market is part of Healthy Corner Store Project, in partnership with FPSE Healthy Neighborhood Store Team, University of Missouri Extension, City of St. Louis Departments of Health and Public Safety, and St. Louis Development Corporation.
For more information or to get involved with the FPSE Healthy Neighborhood Store Team, contact Stephanie at 314-643-8929 or stepco@gmail.com.
