Collaboration delivered 12,000+ boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to school sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
PHILADELPHIA – The Common Market, a nonprofit food distributor founded in Philadelphia, PA, today announced it provided 12,000 boxes of fresh, nutritious foods to Pennsylvania and New Jersey communities facing food insecurity, through a collaboration with Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the leading U.S.-based food service provider, the Camden City School District and William Penn School District.
The Common Market packed and delivered 1,680 “Farm-Fresh Boxes” of local fruits and vegetables weekly, to six school sites that Aramark serves, which were distributed to students, families and those in-need in the surrounding community. The food access program ran from July through the end of August and will continue into September.
“The Common Market has been a great resource to the diverse community served by the William Penn School District, which has been able to provide healthy food access in neighborhoods rocked by both the pandemic and years of economic disinvestment,” shared PA Senator Tim Kearney. "Farmers to Families is feeding our neighbors in need, keeping our farms afloat, and giving us all hope during this difficult time.”
“During this time of uncertainty, we are honored to continue investing in our small- to medium-scale farmers, and in turn, nourish hungry communities,” says The Common Market Mid-Atlantic’s Executive Director, Yael Lehmann.
The Common Market Mid-Atlantic and Aramark distributed the “Farm-Fresh Boxes” at the following locations weekly:
- Camden City School District, Wiggins School (Camden, NJ)
- Camden City School District, Woodrow Wilson School (Camden, NJ)
- Camden City School District, Creative Arts High School (Camden, NJ)
- Camden City School District, Sharp School (Camden, NJ)
- William Penn School District, Evans Elementary School (Yeadon, PA)
- William Penn School District, Penn Wood Middle School (Darby, PA)
The Common Market was awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box program, which allowed its Mid-Atlantic chapter to pack and deliver thousands of “Farm-Fresh Boxes” to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Baltimore-based schools, hospitals and nonprofits dedicated to serving individuals and families in-need.
“We are proud of our work with the Common Market, Camden and William Penn School Districts to provide community access to fresh produce and help to ensure that children and families stayed nourished during this time,” said Barbara Flanagan, President of Aramark’s K-12 Education division.
As part of its broader 2025 sustainability plan, Be Well. Do Well., Aramark is working to reduce inequality, support and grow local communities, and protect the planet. The Company is investing in partnerships, to help communities end hunger and achieve food security by improving access to healthy food.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Aramark has been named to DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list, the Forbes list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
