Gem City Market in Dayton, Ohio, is a community-owned grocery store created to meet local needs. Located in an area with limited food access, it offers a wide range of groceries, a teaching kitchen, nutrition classes, wellness programs, a mini-clinic, a café, and a community room. These resources aim to improve access to groceries, provide healthy food options, and offer a better shopping experience for residents, especially in low-income neighborhoods. Kettering Health has provided 28 events at The Gem City Market as of November 2024. These events include nutrition classes in the teaching kitchen led by Kettering Health Registered Dietitians, Blood Pressure Screenings by Kettering Health RNs, exercise education in the form of “Ask a Fitness Specialist,” and cooking demos alongside “Ask a Dietitian.”

Why we did it

The Dayton community created the project to address the food hardship faced by families with children in Dayton, a city with some of the lowest food access in the United States. Gem City Market, in partnership with Kettering Health (KH) and other local groups, is making a positive impact in low-income neighborhoods. Organizations such as Co-op Dayton, The Hall Hunger Initiative, The Grandview Foundation, Expressions of Life, Catholic Social Services of Miami Valley, and Premier Health have all contributed to the market’s success. The market’s teaching kitchen helps healthcare providers and residents gain valuable nutrition knowledge, while Homefull’s Mobile Grocery brings fresh food to areas without nearby stores. Gem City Market ensures that everyone in the community has access to fresh, healthy, and affordable groceries, no matter where they live.

Topics: Community Care|Food Security/Nutrition