Since the beginning of 2015, HOPE youth and project leaders have been taking the Healthy Corner Store Project into their own hands - literally.  

Each month, HOPE has been hosting a "makeover" and taste testing event at different partner corner stores. These events have been planned and led by teams of youth and adult project leaders who work together in planning the menu of new healthy products for customers to taste, to creating a new layout for the products, and shelving in the store to better highlight healthy foods. On the days of the event, volunteers from the neighborhood and partner groups like BuildOn join in to transform the store and engage local residents in the process.

In January, HOPE youth interns from CCPA worked to clean up and reorganize Eihab Discount located directly across the street from their school. They moved candy to the back and brought healthy beverages and snacks to the front of the store. A team from HOPE's Youth Action Board led the planning for February's work day at Sunbeam Market in West Oakland. Reorganizing the shelves was a huge undertaking and volunteers took care to remove all expired products and leave the shelves looking clean. People's Grocery, as a partner on this project, also joined in to share green smoothie samples as a potential new product for the store and part of their campaign to ensure everyone in West Oakland is getting their daily fruit and veggie intake. March brought everyone back to Three Amigos Market in San Antonio where youth and volunteers removed tobacco signs and scoured the front counter, set up a produce rack in the center of the store, and provided samples of healthy deli sandwiches and salads designed by chef and HOPE partner, Jenny Huston. Kelly Curry from People's Grocery also provided a cooking demonstration for making mini-quesadillas using a healthy serving of fresh vegetables.

These workdays are just the beginning of the transformation happening in these stores. After each volunteer event, store owners are more knowledgeable and motivated to take initiative to clean up and bring healthier products to their stores. Local residents and customers are more aware and engaged in the project and continue to express excitement about the new healthy possibilities to the store long after the event is over.

Our next workday will be Saturday, April 18th from 10am - 2pm at One Stop Liquor, 8400 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94621. If you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact Angela Hadwin at angela@hopecollaborative.net or (510) 444-4221.