Creating A Welcoming Environment for Food Security

According to the Barb Food Mart, more than 60 percent of DeKalb’s students live in low-income families and qualify for free and reduced school meals. Starting in March 2020, the number of clients increased threefold. By February 2022, Barb Food Mart saw as many as 200-230 families each week.

Barb Food Mart is a food pantry that serves students and families in DeKalb School District 428. Their mission is to promote dignity, equity, and choice while reducing food insecurity and increasing access to community resources.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Barb Food Mart shifted to an online ordering system and developed an entirely new pickup process outdoors. This new process was highly successful and kept in place despite the pandemic waning. With year-round outdoor food distribution events, the need arose for a permanent structure to serve as the starting point for food pickup.

“Barb Food Mart is run primarily with volunteer support. Having the welcome center be a safe and dry location for volunteers to greet families allows us to continue to operate the drive-thru year-round.”

~ Joey Moore, Director, Barb Food Mart

A cheerful place for greeting families, answering questions, and sheltering volunteers against the sun, wind, rain, and snow.

Barb Food Mart applied for a Community Needs Grant in the fall of 2022 and received a $10,000 grant for the welcome center. Installation occurred in November 2022, and the welcome center became operational a few days later.

Funding for Community Needs Grants is made possible through donor generosity to Community Impact Funds at the Foundation. Thank you donors!