All People’s Fresh Market
This is a sample of a photojournalism project I conducted for the All People’s Fresh Market. I met with and interviewed the market’s clients in order to make a testimonial page showcasing the positive impact the market has had on the outside community.
How has the market impacted your life?
“I’ve been workin’ here for almost 20 years. Some days are hard, and you get frustrated. I met pastor John and I met a bunch of people. It turned my life around. I used to be bad, mean and bad. Didn’t care about nothin’. I met Pastor John and (gets emotional). And then I changed. I had the Lord. And I changed, thank God. If you don’t love, you’ve got nothin’.” -Ivan, 60
Do you feel like you’ve been able to foster a sense of community here?
“Yeah, any time I walk up I feel homey. You can speak to anybody, I know ain’t nobody around here gonna hurt me. A little bit of everybody knows everybody. My most favorite memory is when I first found out about it (the market). The lady, she was just so sweet. She said ‘don’t worry about being shy, just come in and do your thing. Drive through and I got you.’ So the people here, that’s the best memory I have. It’s like they care about you. They smile at you when you come in, they don’t look down on you. It’s a sense of like, you know, I’m walkin’ into family.” -Angela, 43
How has the market impacted your life?
I really enjoy coming here. It’s changed a lot. It really does help a lot, especially when you get the food for free.
What’s your favorite memory from the market?
“Well, all the people are just so sweet. That’s why I call them angel. I give them a hug and I receive a hug. I feel love around here. It’s so important. I can feel the pureness of their hearts. It makes me happy. I just love life. You have to love life. I’m just happy, I have energy! But I really have a positive outlook on life, and I talk to people.” -Daday 54
How has the market impacted you?
It has impacted me a lot. I’ve been coming here for about two years. The market has saved me a whole lot of money, and I enjoy comin’ here. It helps me, and my sister, and my family also, because everybody needs help once in a while. There’s some good people here. They are so nice and so pleasant. They definitely take good care of you.
Do you feel like the market has given you an opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle?
“Yes. Definitely. I love to cook. I’m from the South, and I love cooking! I love givin’ because I’m able to give. - Roy, 65
How has the market impacted your life?
“The reason I got into social work is because I like helpin’ people. I didn’t realize that at first. I was a computer science major in the business school, and I was like this is not what I’m meant to be doin’. One day I just set out and I really prayed on it. God said ‘well what have you been doin?’ I was like, I’ve been helpin’ out at the community. So he said, ‘well that’s what you need to keep doing.” So I decided to go into social work. Come to find out that my mom ran a food pantry, and my aunt opened and ran a food pantry. It was in my genes, I just never realized it. I never paid any attention to it, I was just doin’ what I feel comfortable doin’. I had a trucking business for like 17 years. I made gobs and gobs and gobs of money, but money doesn’t make me happy. There was no joy. This is what I enjoy doin’. -Gary