Food Access Initiatives

Queens Community House has been working to promote a culture of well-being within the public housing development in Flushing where we operate the Pomonok Community Center. We have a coordinated, long-term strategy that includes food access, education, health screenings, and fitness programming.

When QCH began operations of the Pomonok Center more than 50% of respondents rated health as a programmatic priority, citing lack of access to fresh food and lack of time to prepare healthy meals.This prompted a multi-faceted health and wellness initiative that now reaches 1,500 people annually.

SERVICES INCLUDE:

• A volunteer-run, weekly Farmers Market providing 7,030 lbs of fresh, organic produce as well as 230 dozen eggs to the community.
• A Food Box Program offering weekly boxed collections of locally grown produce that can be purchased affordably in conjunction with the summer farmers market.
• A Food Justice Youth Leadership Program, which operates as a 24-week, after school curriculum for low-income middle and high school youth.
• A Community Garden with 21 outdoor plots and an indoor hydroponic bed
• Our Cooking and Eating Together Initiative, which convenes community members monthly for instructional cooking classes, nutritional discussion, and healthy meal sharing.
• Quarterly Potlucks offer a multi-generational and festive environment for all our neighbors to share a meal together and to learn about nutrition and healthy eating habits.