Food sources have diminished for some Rockford neighborhoods, making it harder for it’s residents to have access to. But two local non-profits teamed up together to make groceries available and affordable to anyone in need.



“We have the strong neighborhood house here,” said United Way Rock River Valley Midtown Neighborhood Impact Manager Grant Schubert. “One of the key components of this house is to make sure we’re listening to the community.”



Schubert says residents living near the Strong Neighborhood house on 8th Avenue have seen a decrease in places to buy quality food. To address that, The United Way teamed up with Top Box Foods for a series of pop-up shops. The non-profit provides boxes of quality farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and fresh-frozen meats at discounted prices. “It’s just tough to find affordable, fresh, quality food. So, that’s where you start, right? We’re part of this neighborhood, we’re talking to neighbors and we’re also neighbors. So, we just knew that this was a gap and we wanted to fill it.”



He says they want everyone in Rockford to have equal availability to groceries.



“I think what it’s about is, equity. You know, other neighborhoods have fresh, affordable food and we want to make sure neighborhoods like this have it too. That’s the work everyday. So, just making sure that they have a seat at the table and they have access to things other neighborhoods do.”



Top Box Foods is a Chicago-based organization that works with other counties in the state. This is their first venture into the Rockford area.



“We know that there’s some need here” said Top Box Foods Director of Community Outreach and Marketing Brian Foster. “We heard that there was some stores that had closed. And the neighborhoods and the communities didn’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables that they used to have.”



The food isn’t just for the people in the Strong House neighborhoods, anyone is welcome to visit and purchase food. Foster says they have received good feedback so far and hope to keep returning to Rockford. “We’re just really excited to be in the area. We’re really excited to service the community. We really hope everybody comes and checks us out and buys some food and takes it home and enjoys it.”



Top Box Foods will be at two United Way Strong Neighborhoods houses again on October 21st.

908 8th Avenue, Rockford, Ill.: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

1233 Revell Avenue, Rockford, Ill.: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.



They accept cash, credit card and link card.

