Northwest Equal Dollars Market & Community Food Bank at USG

NORTHWEST PHILADEPHIA RESIDENTS TO USE COMMUNITY CURRENCY TO GET FOOD AT EQUAL DOLLARS MARKET/COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AT UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN

Philadelphia, Pa. (June 1, 2011) – Northwest Philadelphia residents will use the community currency Equal Dollars (=$) at the Northwest Equal Dollars Market & Community Food Bank at Unitarian Society of Germantown. Philadelphia-based nonprofit, Resources for Human Development (RHD), is partnering with the Unitarian Society of Germantown (USG) to make a variety of fresh produce available to the community for Equal Dollars only. Additionally, free food will be available to those who meet income eligibility requirements. Members of USG and the Northwest Philadelphia community can benefit from this market/food bank twice a month. The first food market/bank will open June 16 from 4pm-7pm at USG located at 6511 Lincoln Drive in Germantown and will occur the first and third Thursday of each month.  

“This is a great opportunity for the Germantown community to buy fresh produce and goods at a really great price using local currency,” said Deneene Brockington, Equal Dollar Director at RHD. “When members of the community use the Equal Dollars currency it helps them stretch the value of their U.S. dollars – which we all could benefit from during these difficult economic times.”  

Every member of the community who signs up with the Equal Dollars program will receive 50 Equal Dollar units for use. When the member would like to earn more Equal Dollars they can volunteer their time to a community organization and will receive a gratuity in Equal Dollars.  

“Working families and the working poor may not be able to get from paycheck to paycheck with the food they need to stay healthy, said Anaiis Salles. “We hope our bi-monthly community food bank and market proves to be a budget-stretching creative solution for our neighbors and our congregation.”

In addition to the food bank and market, USG is coordinating a coupon swap. Members of the USG will donate clipped coupons for food, health/beauty/personal hygiene, children’s items (diapers), pet supplies and services (oil changes, auto repairs, etc.). Every person who donates $25 worth of coupons can become a member of the Equal Dollars program and will have their registration fee waived. Other members of the community who join Equal Dollars will pay a $10 fee.