The Greater Boston Food Bank in collaboration with Northern Essex will deliver food for a free, mobile market for all NECC faculty, staff, and students.

With a goal of promoting healthier eating, Northern Essex Community College’s Student Life Team has been instrumental in bringing a mobile food mart to both the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.

Northern Essex faculty, staff, and students, who register by Friday, April 21, can participate in a free, mobile farmer’s market where they can select from a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to a collaboration with the Greater Boston Food Bank. Each person who shops can select up to 25 pounds of fresh produce.  The food mart will visit the campuses once a month.

The free, mobile market, which will be open on Thursday, April 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the Sport and Fitness Center on the Haverhill campus and in the El-Hefni Allied Health and Technology Center on the Lawrence campus, is open to the entire college community, according to Karen Hruska, director of NECC’s counseling and psychological center.

“This is a health initiative that benefits all students, faculty, and staff as everyone is encouraged to both shop and volunteer at the market,” said Hruska. “The folks at GBFB have been incredible in helping us to research implementing this program on our campus and we are eager to pilot our first market on April 27.”

GBFB will deliver high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables directly to campus. A crew of volunteers will set up distribution of the produce in the style of a farmer’s market. Students’ faculty and staff will then ‘shop’ at each table, choosing from a diverse selection of free, fresh produce.  There are no restrictions except to register by April 21st.

Pre-register here if you are interested in participating in the free mobile market or visit the student engagement offices in the sport & fitness center, D105 in Haverhill or Dimitry L133 in Lawrence.

Please bring reusable grocery bags, baskets, or a cart to carry the produce.

For more information about this event or if you need special accommodations for shopping or someone to shop for you, please contact Hruska at NECC’s Counseling & Psychological Services at 978-556-3730 or email counseling@necc.mass.edu