New mobile grocery store launches in Las Vegas
In collaboration with UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid, The Just One Project has launched a new mobile grocery store to bring affordable groceries to food deserts in the Las Vegas area. The mobile grocery store is the first in Nevada, offering healthy, low-cost groceries to Nevadans living in food deserts and serving as an expansion of The Just One Project’s innovative Groceries on the Go program.
UnitedHealthcare invested over $750,000 in the Mobile Grocery Store, a renovated school bus donated by Clark County School District and powered by NV Energy Foundation complete with refrigeration and temperature control. This technology ensures that fresh produce and other perishable items can be transported and stored safely, maintaining their quality and nutritional value. Inside, customers can select and purchase fresh food without leaving their community or paying retail mark ups. The store accepts a variety of payment methods, including SNAP benefits and food vouchers provided by The Just One Project, supporting access for a wide range of community members.
The mobile market is visiting identified food deserts to offer neighborhood residents the opportunity to shop for fresh and healthy foods that may otherwise be unavailable nearby. Food options include fresh produce, breads and grains, eggs and dairy, and fresh and frozen proteins. Clients select their own food based on their individual needs and preferences.
Access to food drives healthy lives
Access to affordable, nutritious food is essential for supporting health and protecting against preventable chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.1 In Nevada, one in seven people and one in five children are affected by food insecurity.2 Food deserts – defined as areas that lack affordable access to healthy foods – are more prevalent in neighborhoods comprised of a majority of residents from a racial or ethnic minority and in areas where a higher percentage of residents experience poverty.3
Launch celebrated by the community
Earlier this year, the Just One Project celebrated the launch of the mobile grocery store at an event in front of the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, a strategic location that highlights the program's commitment to serving veterans. The event was attended by city officials, community members, and volunteers. Attendees heard from The Just One Project, NV Energy Foundation, along with elected officials including Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, Mayor of the City of North Las Vegas, and Councilman Isaac Barron of Ward 1 in the City of North Las Vegas.
Mobile grocery store marks a milestone in UHC collaboration
The launch marks the latest stage in a multi-year collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and The Just One Project.
Since 2021, the collaboration has delivered over 3.5 million pounds of food to more than 150,000 community members. Through the launch of the new mobile grocery store, The Just One Project is making significant strides in combatting food insecurity at a local level.
“The Just One Project is dedicated to closing the gap in access to fresh and affordable whole foods. The Mobile Grocery Store will play a vital role in providing essential support to food deserts in Las Vegas. We are grateful to our partners at UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid and NV Energy Foundation, who share our vision and commitment to ensuring fresh food is accessible to everyone.” -Brooke Neubauer, founder and CEO of The Just One Project
