Muncie – Have you ever tried pairing kohlrabi with hummus as an afternoon snack? At the Ross Community Center, children are learning about healthy snacking and discovering new fruit and vegetable choices thanks to a mobile farmers market that visits the Ross Center every week.

According to the Ross Center’s Executive Director Jacquie Hanoman, the mobile market, provided by Treehill Farms, serves a variety of needs. “Our neighborhood is now able to access fresh produce within walking distance once a week. That’s really a great win for families, considering that there is not a traditional grocery store nearby. Also, the market gives the Ross Center afterschool kids an opportunity to let their imagination fly as they tour the market and see, feel, and taste the vegetables.”

Children from the Ross Community Center afterschool program visit the Treehill Farms mobile farmers market parked in front of the Center. Owner Darby Livingston, left rear, is answering questions about the fresh produce.
Photo by John D. Disher

Treehill Farms owner Darby Livingston enjoys the opportunity to interact with neighborhood families. “It’s really neat to observe the kids get excited to talk about produce that they may never have seen before, like okra. They talk about the shapes, color, and what it tastes like- and that’s encouraging to me because I want to see children grow up to enjoy real foods over the long haul.”

To make the experience more interactive, “we make it a point to prepare something each week from the mobile market for the children to try,” notes Hanoman. “Last week it was kohlrabi and hummus, this week it is specially prepared eggplant slices.” Hanoman also sees this as an opportunity to influence parents. “In one instance, after a tasting session one of our children was so excited to try fried green tomatoes she asked her father to fix some for dinner as soon as they got home.”

In addition to influencing children and family members to eat more fresh produce and healthy snacks, the Ross Community Center is becoming a local resource for physical activity. “We are home to one of the best Judo teams in the state, and we are hosting the 2017 America’s Cup Judo Tournament here in Muncie on September 16^th at Muncie Central. Over two hundred judoka will be in Muncie” said Hanoman. “It’s amazing how Judo inspires our kids to achieve.”

Participants in the Ross Community Center Judo team prepare a demonstration for volunteers from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital on September 8th.
Photo by John D. Disher  

The Ross Center is also constructing two new baseball fields on its property, thanks to generous support from community partners. Scheduled for completion in September 2017, the space will be host to traveling tournaments as well as local baseball matches. Also on the construction list is a new Nature Arts Garden, basketball courts and a soccer/multi-sports field.

Hanoman is appreciative of the many individuals and organizations that support the Ross Community Center. “Last week, a team from the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency spent an entire day with us, giving the main building and surrounding structures a fresh coat of paint. Afterwards, doctors and nurses helped us put on a community ice cream social where they played basketball with the kids and passed out free food bags to neighborhood residents.”

Dr. Erin Cole, 3rd Year Resident at the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program discusses the benefits of fresh produce with an attendee at the
Ross Community Center Ice Cream Social event on September 8th.  Photo by John D. Disher

The Ross Community Center is striving to become a place where people come together for lifelong learning, connecting to community services and enjoying recreational activities. To learn more, download a copy of the Ross Center’s Summer Newsletter or please contact: Jacqueline Hanoman, Executive Director, Ross Community Center.  Phone- 765-747-4741    Email- jhanoman@rosscentermuncie.org  

The Ross Community Center is located at 1110 W. 10th Street, Muncie, IN 47302
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/FjetP6AQpys