Better Health Coming to Corner Store Shelves in West Oakland

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In West Oakland, there are plenty of liquor and small corner stores that sell junk to the already at-risk community they serve. HOPE Collaborative (Health for Oakland’s People and Environment) plans to help these stores sell better food and become beacons of health.

HOPE Collaborative is a community collaborative working towards policy and systems change to promote the health and well-being of families and youth in the most vulnerable communities of East and West Oakland. Their new Healthy Corner Store Project connects corner stores with financing opportunities, community and technical support that will allow stores to provide fresh, healthier food options. The project promotes resident leadership in building an efficient neighborhood-based food system that will ultimately revitalize neighborhood corner stores.

Young people have played a large role in HOPE Collaborative’s efforts. Youth went out and surveyed local residents to see what kinds of changes they would like to see in their neighborhood corner stores.

Some of the participating stores are already showcasing their healthier fare, like a broad range of healthier drinks including purified water and natural fruit juices.

The collaborative looks forward to more stores signing on to the program, creating a neighborhood that puts the health of its residents as a top priority.

Read more about the Healthy Corner Store Project here.