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HAPCAP celebrates the grand opening of its new market and training hub
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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LOGAN, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — One of the big challenges for food banks, pantries and HAPCAP is ensuring visitors get food they actually want and need.
At a typical pantry, people stand in line to get whatever volunteers have prepared. There’s minimal choice, and pantries seldom have enough people on hand to sort and stock products based on factors like dietary needs. That may mean someone gets ingredients they don’t know how to use, or a person with diabetes or high cholesterol gets something they shouldn’t eat.
That’s a problem the new HAPCAP for Health Market and Training Hub in Logan is designed to solve.
The space is laid out like a typical grocery store: There are shelves stocked with different goods, including sections for frozen meat and fresh produce. Visitors can put what they want in their shopping carts and leave what they don’t. In case someone isn’t sure what to do with, say, a head of garlic or a bag of cranberries, there’s a shelf with simple recipes to get started with.
Friday was the market’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony, but the facility has already been in operation since late September and has served hundreds of individuals. In addition to providing food, the facility offers direct access to other HAPCAP services.
“Coming in and shopping, you can build relationships with folks,” said HAPCAP Community Services Director Jessica Stroh.
The Ohio Association of Health Plans has sponsored the market. Director of Regulatory Affairs Angela Weaver said the space meets a number of needs in the community.
“It gives that individual the dignity of choice,” Weaver said. “They can come here and pick those fruits and vegetables that they know are gonna get actually eaten and used in their household.”
Greater choice also makes it easier for people to fulfill their dietary needs.
“Without nutritious food and being able to control their blood sugars, that could end up in a hospitalization, they could end up with amputations. It could — it could get bad really fast for someone with diabetes if they don’t have access to the food that will help them regulate their blood sugar. Same with folks with high cholesterol or heart disease,” Weaver said.
During a speech in the warehouse behind the market, HAPCAP Development Director Eva Bloom said there are ample opportunities for community members to get involved.
“If you want to come and be part of the market, help people register, find what they need — we’ll probably need this space cleaned occasionally if you want to do a deep clean day. The possibilities are truly endless,” Bloom said.
Stroh said HAPCAP plans to keep adding to the space as well. There has been discussion of providing complete meal kits and offering classes.
“We are very excited. We have a lot of plans and a big vision for this space,” Stroh said. “This is just the start today.”