On Thursday, October 24th at noon, the Sebring branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and the Mobile Market team up to help feed hungry families in Sebring, which has been identified as a food desert. Access to affordable, high-quality food is limited in Sebring and this partnership was established to meet that need.
PLYMC has a long-standing relationship with the Mobile Market, a grocery store on wheels, that is operated by ACTION (Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods), a non-profit faith-based organization in the community. The Media is invited to join us on Thursday, October 24th, at noon, to see how the Market impacts the community and to speak with Library staff about the importance of this program.
“The Sebring Library hosts the Mobile Market once per month and serves up to 50 people each visit,” said Cindy Christani, Sebring Library Supervisor. “I have been in this community for 30 years and I know many of the people who use this service. The Market helps stretch the food dollar in Sebring,” added Christani.
This program not only strives to feed the community, but also helps bring business to local farms who supply the food to fill the market. Community members can sign up to receive one $15 voucher a month to use on the Mobile Market at no cost to them when they present an ID.
Tim Gabrelcik, Sebring Village Manager, said, “The Mobile Market has been a much needed and well received service to the Sebring community and the Library’s Sebring branch has been a fantastic resource and asset to the area. They have been instrumental in hosting other services for the residents as well.” Gabrelcik added, “With Sebring being in an outlying area of Mahoning County geographically, these types of services are vital. We appreciate the library’s continued support!”
The Mobile Market stops at the Sebring branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County monthly. The schedule can be found on the web site, www.libraryvisit.org., opens a new window
“It is important to highlight the critical role libraries play in rural areas in Mahoning County. When people think of libraries, they often think of larger, more populated areas. But our rural communities have unique needs and there are often so few institutions there to help meet them, so we are happy to do our part and help,” said Michael Stepp, PLYMC Strategic Communications Officer.
The next scheduled stop will be November 14, 2024, from 12-2:00.
Follow PLYMC on social media (Facebook, opens a new window, Twitter, opens a new window, Instagram, opens a new window, and TikTok, opens a new window) and check www.libraryvisit.org, opens a new window for updates.
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) has served the Mahoning Valley since 1880 when the Youngstown Library Association was officially created. With 14 branches across Mahoning County, including Main Library in downtown Youngstown, PLYMC is well known for its signature services and programs like Summer Discovery and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. PLYMC serves our communities by preparing children for kindergarten, promoting early literacy, assisting job seekers, connecting Valley residents to technology, and providing resources for small businesses.
