EV Choice (EVC), a provider of commercial zero emissions vehicles, delivers on a clean-air, zero emissions step van to facilitate a healthy food full retail mobile grocery store with SNAP and EBT accessibility for the Halo Food Project which is pioneered by the nonprofit, The Niles Foundation, to service disadvantaged, underserved communities in Los Angeles.
The Ford F59 equipped with a SEA-Drive® Power-System allows for this food justice initiative to work to address the root causes of food insecurity in South Los Angeles using an environmentally-friendly, sustainable approach ensuring deliveries are made with clean air in mind. The ZEV was purchased utilizing funds from the Innovative Small E-Fleets (ISEF) program, a California state program that provides point-of-sale rebates doubling standard HVIP incentives to privately-owned trucking companies, nonprofits and independent owner/operators with 20 or fewer trucks. The delivery of the ZEV to the Halo Food Project is a positive example of how the ISEF program is aiding small businesses and non-profits in making an impact in the fight against climate change.
Born and raised in South Los Angeles, The Niles Foundation's Founder and CEO, Shante Walker, grew up seeing a deficit of access, support, leadership programs, environmentally-friendly outdoor open spaces and equitable community development opportunities. Walker's goal in creating The Niles Foundation was to create youth leadership and entrepreneurship for disadvantaged communities in the area.
"We're giving back to even the floors, to look out for those who are overlooked, underserved and historically disadvantaged providing equity and equality where it's needed most," says Walker.
The Halo Food Project also offers nutrition education workshops and materials to help people make healthy choices about the food they eat. Funded by donations from individuals, business and grants, the project is working to improve the health of children and families with the support of volunteers who help to distribute food and provide nutrition education.
"The Halo Food Project is not just any grocery store but a mobile fresh food access grocery store that will benefit very low-income, underserved, underrepresented, disadvantaged and BIPOC communities of LA & South LA," said Walker. "The Niles Foundation’s Halo Food Project grocery store is a farm-direct-to-community that will offer service and products that are healthy, fresh, natural, organic and includes vegan and vegetarian options from locally and regionally sourced farmers, growers and food producers. In addition, we are also lifting up women, LGBTQ and BIPOC producers to supply our grocery store."
The Halo Food Project's innovative approach to addressing food insecurity is making a real difference in the lives of people in need while keeping the whole health and future of these communities in consideration.
"The Niles Foundation believes that equitable solutions need to be approached holistically and inclusively. We could have a vehicle running around town attempting to alleviate one problem by causing another," explained Walker. "While food is a basic need, so is clean air, and we wanted to provide both. This is the entire premise of why The Niles Foundation works to provide greater, better and long-term solutions for our disadvantaged communities. We want to add to decreasing GHG gas emissions while we are decreasing food insecurity at the same time. This is only the beginning. Even just one voice, is still a voice!"
If you are interested in supporting the Halo Food Project from The Niles Foundation, you can donate to the nonprofit or volunteer your time. Learn more about The Niles Foundation and the Halo Food Project here:
The Niles Foundation - https://thenilesfoundation.org
The Halo Food Project - https://thehalofoodproject.com
Contact EVC to learn more about the Innovative Small E-Fleet (ISEF) program for California state funding for zero emissions vehicles to see what a difference it can make!