Community Pop-Up Food Shares

Community pop-up food shares are temporary food distribution events that are organized by community-led groups or organizations to provide access to affordable, nutritious food for members of a particular community. Pop-up food shares may be held in a variety of locations, such as community centers, schools, or churches, and they may be set up as drive-through or walk-up events. These events can be especially useful in times of emergency or crisis, when there is an increased need for food assistance. They may also be used to supplement ongoing food assistance programs or to reach specific groups of people who may not have regular access to food resources. Community pop-up food shares can be a valuable way to address food insecurity and promote food security in a community.

In July 2019, Kaizen launched an emergency mobile food share program to provide no-contact curbside food distribution to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities affected by food apartheid. This initiative empowered community members and prevented nutrient-dense food from going to waste. Year to date, Kaizen redistributed over 11 million pounds of food to communities facing food apartheid. The program helped families save up to $200 per visit and provided thousands of participants (reaching in 93 zip codes!) with fresh produce and culturally relevant food.

*Food apartheid refers to the systemic barriers and discrimination that limit access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food for certain communities, often those that are marginalized or disadvantaged. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as poverty, lack of transportation, and discriminatory policies or practices. Food apartheid can have serious consequences for the health and well-being of affected communities.

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* We use the term food apartheid to emphasize that the lack of access results from structural inequalities and deliberate resource allocation to exclude healthy food from communities of color and low-income communities as a result of systemic racism and classism.