Before the Capital Area Food Bank’s Community Marketplace in Arlington officially opens each month, neighbors are already waiting in line.
Inspired by a traditional farmers market, these free monthly food distributions allow neighbors to select fresh, seasonal produce alongside proteins and other grocery staples. The markets also connect attendees with additional community resources, such as cooking demonstrations from the food bank’s nutrition education team, or utility assistance from local partner organizations.
In Arlington, families begin lining up well before 8 a.m. to fill their bags with colorful fruits and vegetables, proteins and other pantry essentials, including oat milk. For many, the monthly market has become a reliable source of nutritious food that helps stretch household budgets while easing the pressure of rising costs for groceries, housing and other everyday essentials.
For Melvy, who is expecting her third child, the Community Marketplace has become an important resource for feeding her growing family.
She first learned about the market through an app shared by her children’s school that connects families with community resources. Living just upstairs from the market site, she regularly visits the monthly distribution to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables for her household.
“It helps a lot with this economy,” she said, allowing her to prepare balanced meals for her family, which are especially important during her pregnancy.
On this visit, Melvy was excited to receive a large cabbage that she planned to turn into fresh salads. The fruits and vegetables she brings home also become lunches for her 10-year-old and 4-year-old. During the summer, when her children aren’t receiving school meals, having access to fresh groceries is especially helpful.
For Lizbeth, attending the Community Marketplace also has become part of her family’s monthly routine.
After hearing about it from friends two years ago, she has returned nearly every month, walking to the market with her family from their nearby home.
The food she receives helps feed her husband and three children while lowering her grocery bill.
“It helps me a lot,” Lizbeth says.
She especially appreciates receiving protein items, which have become increasingly expensive to purchase at the grocery store. A chicken from the market can become a hearty soup that feeds her entire family with enough leftovers for another meal, while the savings allow her to put more of her budget toward other necessities, like utilities.
Another Arlington neighbor, Claudia, discovered the Community Marketplace simply by passing by one day and seeing families gathered outside. She has now been receiving food from the market for about a year.
Living nearby, she often attends with members of her extended family, including her grandchildren. Together, they prepare fresh salads and vegetable soups using the fruits and vegetables they receive.
For Claudia, the market has become especially important as housing costs continue to rise.
“Rent is currently really high,” she says.
She also sees the market’s impact throughout her community. Many immigrant families nearby face challenges finding employment or earning enough to comfortably cover everyday expenses. Access to free groceries helps families make the income they do have stretch further while ensuring children have meals on the table.
She also appreciates the quality of what’s available each month: “The fruits and vegetables are very fresh.”
While each family’s story is different, they all shared a similar message: having consistent access to fresh, nutritious food helps them care for their families while making household budgets go further. Whether it’s packing lunches during the summer, preparing a soup that feeds multiple generations or simply freeing up money for rent and utilities, the Community Marketplace makes it easier for neighbors to put fresh, nutritious meals on the table.
Learn more about upcoming Community Marketplace dates and locations here.
Photo Credits: Maansi Srivastava for Capital Area Food Bank