Neighborhood Grocery
Donation protected
Neighborhood Grocery is a small-format, full-service, equity-crowdfunded grocery store that debuted on the side of Detroit in 2023. In addition to serving the Jefferson-Chalmers and surrounding Detroit and Grosse Pointe neighborhoods, Neighborhood Grocery is a social enterprise that leads several community initiatives, including:
- Community Health - In 2025, Neighborhood Grocery will launch Project Neighborhood Health, a community health initiative partnering with several health organizations and businesses in Detroit to address poor outcomes through various activities, programs, and advocacy efforts. Current partners include Authority Health and Hitha Healing House. Supporters of this initiative are the American Heart Association and Eastside Community Network. The store frequently leads healthy food efforts in collaboration with other organizations, distributing groceries to food-insecure residents, including during Thanksgiving and New Year.
- Environmental Justice and Urban Agriculture - Neighborhood Grocery owns and operates Neighborhood Garden, a 1/2 acre market garden that grows and distributes chemical-free fruits and vegetables to Detroiters. It also serves as a distributor to Neighborhood Grocery, with plans to expand distribution to restaurants and more.
- The Arts - Neighborhood Grocery operates as an art gallery, showcasing and selling local artwork with no commission taken from the artists. It also serves as a platform for local artists, having commissioned and installed the first mural to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding area.
- Social Services - Grocery is an official partner with the Michigan Department of Human Services, providing assistance to residents with their food assistance, cash, SER, and health insurance. Neighborhood Grocery collaborates with the Detroit College Access Network to assist residents with FAFSA applications. Additionally, supported by the American Heart Association, the store offers a self-service blood pressure monitor for residents to help them move towards better heart health. In response to natural disasters, which are frequent in the area due to it being a flood disaster zone, Neighborhood Grocery serves as a resilience hub, providing storage space for medicines and other cooling essentials in the event of a power outage, and distributing emergency supplies like flashlights, batteries, water, and more. The store is also an official warming and cooling center for the homeless.
Because Neighborhood Grocery is not a non-profit, the store relies on GoFundMe to help us cover the cost for these many social causes, and to help us in case of an emergency like an equipment repair, theft, etc.
Neighborhood Grocery is currently using GoFundMe to successfully launch and operate Project Neighborhood Health. Our first effort, on January 27, 2025, is a food distribution event, followed by a blood pressure device distribution and men’s circle at Hitha Healing House on February 3, 2025. Following this, Neighborhood Grocery will provide healthy lunches to the Meaningful Power Foundation’s youth tech bootcamp from February 17-19, 2025.
Below is a cost breakdown for the upcoming confirmed and future events in collaboration with Hitha Healing House as part of Project Neighborhood Health which aims to help fathers in Detroit:
- Cooking Demonstrations w/ Food Distribution Costs (4) = $10,000
In collaboration with the Popoff Kitchen at Authority Health, Neighborhood Grocery will conduct four cooking demonstrations and food distributions of healthy, organic, and seasonal foods, accompanied by recipes and nutritional information, to 20 participating fathers in Detroit. The distributions will be themed as follows: Winter: Comfort Foods; Spring: Increased Plant Consumption; Summer: Juicing; and Fall: Food Waste Elimination and Preservation.
- Men’s Circle Talks = $9,900
Neighborhood Grocery will conduct monthly Men’s Circle Talks at Hitha Healing House. These sessions will address various topics, including mental health, nutrition, co-parenting, finances, and spirituality, and will provide a networking space for men to foster community. Neighborhood Grocery has hosted these talks previously and wishes to relaunch the effort in a more formal and comfortable setting.
- Blood Pressure Device Distribution (20) = $2,150
Project Neighborhood Grocery will donate 20 blood pressure monitors to 20 fathers residing in Detroit. Recipients will receive comprehensive instruction on proper device operation to promote self-monitoring of heart health and encourage adherence to healthier lifestyle practices. This initiative addresses cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality both globally and within the Black male population. Neighborhood Grocery has a demonstrated record of successful collaborations on similar distributions with the American Heart Association and seeks to expand its impact through this endeavor.
- Blood Sugar Device Distribution (20) = $950.00
Neighborhood Grocery founder Raphael Wright, who personally lives with diabetes, has made leading the fight against the disease a key priority. As part of this initiative, he will distribute 20 blood glucose meters to 20 Detroit residents. The distribution will be accompanied by supplementary resources provided by the American Diabetes Association.
- Community Service Projects = $4,000
Project Neighborhood Health, a component of Project Neighborhood Health, and its partner organization will conduct four community service initiatives, consistent with the previous year:
Community Garden/Neighborhood Cleanup, including subsequent garden maintenance
Back to School Laptop Distribution
Thanksgiving Meal Distribution
Christmas Toy Distribution
Costs associated with these community services encompass expenses for volunteer provisions and supplies for cleanup efforts, uniforms, and informational materials.
- Community Dinners (4) = $6,000
In 2025, Neighborhood Grocery will host four themed community dinners, an increase of one compared to the three held in the previous year. These dinners will coincide with the following events: Black History Month (winter), Earth Week (spring), a summer cookout (summer), and a newly installed end-of-harvest dinner (fall).
- Stipends (Physical Health, Mental Health) = $9,600
Physical Health = $2,400
Mental Health = $2,400
Spiritual Health = $2,400
Financial Health = $2,400
Neighborhood Grocery will provide stipends to qualified professionals in the aforementioned fields to support participant health progression. These professionals will conduct monthly group sessions and offer services to participants.
- Other = $33,000
Printing = $1,000
Bookkeeping = $2,000
Transportation, Maintenance Costs = $10,000
IT = $5,000
Photography = $5,000
Videography = $10,000
- Total = $75,600
As of today, Neighborhood Grocery has received financial commitments totaling $26,100 from Hitha Healing House and Eastside Community Network.
Organizer
Raphael Wright
Organizer
Detroit, MI