As seven-year-old Serenity made her way down the tables lined with food, she had her eyes set on one item.

 

It wasn’t the Danimals yogurt. Or the cookies.

 

It was the fresh-cut watermelon.

 

“Okay,” her mom, Heather, told her. “You can put those in your bag.” Serenity smiled and immediately grabbed them. Why watermelon?

 

“Because it’s juicy!” exclaimed Serenity.

 

Serenity is one of seven kids, and coming to the Mobile Market with her mom and older sister is one of her favorite things to do each month. “She’s like a kid in a candy store,” said Heather. “Except instead of candy she gets excited for fruits and vegetables.”

 

The Mobile Market is also a chance for Serenity to try foods she’s never had before.

 

“Last time we came here she was able to get spaghetti squash. She had never tried it before. So I had her cook it with me because I knew she was more likely to enjoy it. We used tomato sauce and included meatballs and cheese. Serenity loved it. She now calls it a ‘spaghetti boat.’”

 

Heather is a stay-at-home mom. And while some of her kids are young adults, she still wants to be able to support them when needed. “Food is so expensive right now. With my husband’s income, we are paycheck-to-paycheck. We’re able to get some great items here first and then go to the grocery store afterward to get the rest. This helps us a lot.”