This month, we would like to highlight David Derryck, the social entrepreneur behind Last Mile Foods.David has spent the past ten years leading and managing social enterprises in a variety of industries that seek to employ individuals with barriers to employment. David was drawn, not only to HOPE Collaborative's purpose, goals and mission, but to our goal to develop a food distribution enterprise with the potential to deliver positive social and economic results for the local Oakland community and the broader Bay area community.

David draws from his prior food experience launching a fresh-cut processing facility in partnership with a fresh produce distributor and advising Corbin Hill Food Project, the largest CSA in New York City and a pioneering model of food distribution, to launch Last Mile Foods. Last Mile Foods increases food access by distributing fresh, healthy, nutritious food the "last mile" via small "Healthy Coolers" located within small retailers and other community organizations to carry healthy, locally grown and produced snacks, semi-prepared, and heat and serve meals.

David has enjoyed the opportunity to work with a number of HOPE Collaborative's constituents and has been able to leverage the work being done by the Healthy Corner Store Project. In fact, Last Mile Foods' first two locations are a result of the two projects working together. David has also appreciated the opportunity to hire from the community and is proud of the fact that Last Mile Foods' web designer hails from East Oakland!David's vision for Last Mile Foods is to have a healthy cooler in every site that needs or wants one in order to improve food access for all Oakland neighborhoods.

Over the past year, a group of YAB members worked hard to revitalize Sunbeam Market to be a source of healthy foods for the community. They led three workday events where they provided samples of new healthy products to the community while reorganizing the inside of the store to make healthy food easier to find. They also collected input from over 80 residents to better understand what types of healthy changes people in the neighborhood actually want to see in the store. Through the youth's efforts, the store owner has become more aware of healthy foods and where they are in his store. He has also become more motivated to sell new healthy products, inviting the youth to come shopping with him to pick out better food.

On Saturday, July 18th, HOPE Collaborative's Youth Action Board's (YAB) Healthy Corner Store Team hosted an event at Sunbeam Market to celebrate the accomplishments of the youth working to improve the corner store as well as raise awareness the healthy changes to come. Several HOPE leaders, volunteers, and staff also came out to support the youth in making the day a success.

The event engaged nearby residents and children in fun and educational activities from a jumper to a quiz game and healthy food photobooth. People had the opportunity to sample sandwiches and salads coming to the store through Last Mile Foods and fresh green smoothie samples made by volunteers from Planting Justice. Kids and some adventurous adults took turns pedaling a bike-powered blender to make berry smoothies and youth prepared a cook-off activity for people to attempt to make a healthy meal serving four people with only $15 using food from the corner store. At the end of the day, several residents expressed interest in continuing to be involved with HOPE's Healthy Corner Store project.

In the coming weeks, Sunbeam Market will begin to sell fresh salads and sandwiches in a Last Mile Foods cooler. They are also working to repair a refrigerated produce case they just acquired in order to expand their produce selection. Additionally, they are working with architects and designers to get appropriate drawings and permits to build out a deli in the back of the store that will serve fresh soups, salads, sandwiches and smoothies to order.