It started with 20 turkeys. That’s how Jennifer Desir Hillaire describes the humble beginnings of the Parramore Market, which opens to the public on Oct. 28.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 27, Hillaire said that serving a Thanksgiving meal to 80 people in 2020 was the inspiration for the 5,000 sq. ft. grocery store.
“We kept showing up,” said Hillaire. “Volunteers came. Partners joined us. Our neighbors began to know us during our outdoor food distributions. People would ask me all the time, ‘Are you going to stay? Are you only doing this temporarily?’”
Elected officials, Parramore residents, donors and community members were on hand Oct. 27 for the Parramore Market ribbon cutting ceremony. (NICK GEORGOUDIOU)
Those 20 turkeys were donated by Ryan Young of Interstruct Inc. The organization provided funding for the Parramore Market, joined by other organizations including Orange Blossom Trail Development, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Palm Coast, Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, OUC, Wholelife Church, the City of Orlando, and Central Florida Foundation.
The facility is open to residents who have applied for and received a market card. Once approved, families shop for free.
“This is a choice pantry,” said District 42 Florida State Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani at the ceremony. “You get a shopping cart, and you get to shop as if you’re at any other grocery store. There’s a dignity aspect to that that really, really matters because again, this is not a handout; it’s a hand up.”