Fare & Square Seeks Members

Fare & Square, a not-for-profit grocery store set to open in Chester, Pa., in late September, will hold Carrot Club membership enrollment events at various locations across the Keystone State’s Delaware County in July and August.

The brainchild of Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, Fare & Square will offer an underserved community a full range of food staples, with a focus on fresh, healthy products, at everyday low prices. Additionally, the 21,000-square-foot renovated store will accept SNAP benefits and help members sign up to receive them.

All Carrot Club members can earn rewards, access in-store promotions, and receive program incentives and special values. Eligible members will also get money off in the form of “Carrot Cash” applicable to future purchases, enabling them to save money and maximize their food budgets.

Fare & Square will create 40 to 50 new jobs, hiring locally whenever possible. Philabundance is offering a free Service Industry Training course for area residents who wish to apply for a position at the store. The five-week course gives trainees the opportunity to earn Safe Food Handling Certification, as well as access to career counseling and resources, online and classroom employment prep, and customer service training. Graduates will be the first considered for jobs at Fare & Square, although job placement isn’t guaranteed. The first class begins July 22 in Chester, Pa.

The west end of Chester is one of 35 USDA-determined food deserts in the Delaware Valley and has lacked a full-service grocery store since 2001. Philabundance aims to introduce the not-for-profit store model to other communities in the Delaware Valley.