FM cont'd and Food for Rockwood Residents
In 2003 when Fred Meyer vacated, so did many residents of the apartments in the Rockwood "Triangle." Those that had found the location as a convenience for travel without cars and those whose interests were sustainability, found they couldn't be sustained in Rockwood. (See future blog on residents/housing issues of Rockwood.)
When Fred Meyer announced they were leaving, many renters in the local apartments gave their notice as well. The "walking community" and mass transit community no longer were available and the promise of drawing these characterstics faded.
One of the customers who melted my heart the most was an elderly blind woman (who lives in the triangle to this day). She was very distraught as her abilities to travel were limited and accessing a grocery store outside the neighborhood would require her to find new forms of transportation and begin a new learning curve on how to access basic services.
I started a letter writing campaign at that time and asked Fred Meyer to not abandon Rockwood and leave this negative message to taint the neighborhood. This led to over 50 letters sent to Fred Meyer executives and a small rally outside the store, only leading to more negative words from the executives, but plenty of support from store staff and disappointed shoppers.
As mentioned in the previous blog, other stores inquired about the spot (yes, Walmart was one) but Fred Meyer had no interest in giving up their ten (or was it twelve) year lease they still held.
In 2007 Mauricio Alvarez opened La Tapatia - a limited grocery store across the street from the Fred Meyer site offering groceries to the community. Many convenience stores serve the local community.
Apartment residents have spoken to me about apartments in their complexes where neighbors can buy conveniences for cash. Items such as laundry detergent, ice cream bars, milk and sugar were available by knocking on the neighbors' doors. Upon first hearing this I was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of these neighbors to make additional money by offering their neighbor's these commodities. However, this may or may not be tied to a bigger problem called "theft for resale." Grocery stores everywhere are suffering from theft rings where common items are being stolen from their stores, disappearing slowly but surely. Common items in theft for resale are baby formula, cleaning supplies etc. This is not a problem unique to Rockwood, but clearly resale is much easier in a neighborhood where these commodities are in demand.
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/09/northeast_portland_mom_four_da.html
Many groups have taken on the issues of providing food options to the Rockwood community where apartments are abundant and most serve lower income populations in the current environment.
WHY ARE THERE FOOD ISSUES?
On limited incomes and without traveling convenience, many families have few options for groceries and shopping for common needs in Rockwood. Food stamps are often used at the local 7-11 and quick mart. A food stamp budget buys much less food at convenience stores than average grocery stores. Take into account the types of foods that are being purchased for family meals at these stores. Basic nutrition needs are rarely met.
A small community garden is in place on approximately 194th and Yamhill. We Are Oregon, a local organization, began organizing a food co-op system and distribution. These resources remain limited in the community. Traveling to a full service store on the Max line, going East offers nothing. Going west, the Max line will eventually get you to a grocery store but not conveniently.
.
When Fred Meyer announced they were leaving, many renters in the local apartments gave their notice as well. The "walking community" and mass transit community no longer were available and the promise of drawing these characterstics faded.
One of the customers who melted my heart the most was an elderly blind woman (who lives in the triangle to this day). She was very distraught as her abilities to travel were limited and accessing a grocery store outside the neighborhood would require her to find new forms of transportation and begin a new learning curve on how to access basic services.
I started a letter writing campaign at that time and asked Fred Meyer to not abandon Rockwood and leave this negative message to taint the neighborhood. This led to over 50 letters sent to Fred Meyer executives and a small rally outside the store, only leading to more negative words from the executives, but plenty of support from store staff and disappointed shoppers.
As mentioned in the previous blog, other stores inquired about the spot (yes, Walmart was one) but Fred Meyer had no interest in giving up their ten (or was it twelve) year lease they still held.
In 2007 Mauricio Alvarez opened La Tapatia - a limited grocery store across the street from the Fred Meyer site offering groceries to the community. Many convenience stores serve the local community.
Apartment residents have spoken to me about apartments in their complexes where neighbors can buy conveniences for cash. Items such as laundry detergent, ice cream bars, milk and sugar were available by knocking on the neighbors' doors. Upon first hearing this I was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of these neighbors to make additional money by offering their neighbor's these commodities. However, this may or may not be tied to a bigger problem called "theft for resale." Grocery stores everywhere are suffering from theft rings where common items are being stolen from their stores, disappearing slowly but surely. Common items in theft for resale are baby formula, cleaning supplies etc. This is not a problem unique to Rockwood, but clearly resale is much easier in a neighborhood where these commodities are in demand.
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/09/northeast_portland_mom_four_da.html
Many groups have taken on the issues of providing food options to the Rockwood community where apartments are abundant and most serve lower income populations in the current environment.
WHY ARE THERE FOOD ISSUES?
On limited incomes and without traveling convenience, many families have few options for groceries and shopping for common needs in Rockwood. Food stamps are often used at the local 7-11 and quick mart. A food stamp budget buys much less food at convenience stores than average grocery stores. Take into account the types of foods that are being purchased for family meals at these stores. Basic nutrition needs are rarely met.
A small community garden is in place on approximately 194th and Yamhill. We Are Oregon, a local organization, began organizing a food co-op system and distribution. These resources remain limited in the community. Traveling to a full service store on the Max line, going East offers nothing. Going west, the Max line will eventually get you to a grocery store but not conveniently.
.
posted by Dina DiNucci at
9:57 PM
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