Parramore Market Introduces Dignity and Choice in Orlando’s Food Desert

The traditional lines of food pantries are now a thing of the past at a Parramore nonprofit, where the Parramore Market has opened as a micro grocery store located in the heart of Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood. This new initiative provides residents with a choice of free food, replacing the pre-packed boxes typically given out.

Founded in 2020, The Desire Foundation Inc., a nonprofit focused on food security, aims to restore dignity and autonomy to community members by allowing them to select groceries themselves. Jennifer Desir Hilaire, the founder of The Desire Foundation, emphasized the importance of viewing access to food as a right rather than a privilege. The market addresses the issue of the Parramore neighborhood being a food desert and builds upon previous efforts such as Project 814, which distributed substantial amounts of food over the past year. Furthermore, the market offers not just fresh produce but also household necessities and various community resources, including a clinic and a computer lab for job assistance.