Markeshia Ricks Photos
Deltas Keisha Redd-Hannans and Zakia Parrish help a young shopper look for toiletries.
The New Haven Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, the Delta Academy, and GEMS youth program held their 8th “free market” for the community this past Saturday.
The annual event, which also doubles as a health symposium where people can receive free blood pressure screening and access other resources for maintaining good physical and dental health, provides an opportunity for more than 750 “shoppers” to take home as many clothes, shoes, and household items as they need at no cost.
“This event is a blessing it helps me and my five kids with clothes [and] household things,” a fifth-year attendee said. “I don’t have enough money to get [these things]. I told my neighbors to come out too.”
Jordon Johnson mans the grill.
Shopper Grace stands in line.
And on Saturday the event did brisk business with shoppers, who not only got to “shop” and get health advice but they also got to enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers, fried dough and cool sweet treats like Italian ice on one of the first hot days of the year. People also were encouraged to register to vote so that they could participate in the upcoming elections this fall.
Shoppers got to choose from an abundance of clothes and shoes …
… but also housewares.
The free market is the largest community service program that the New Haven Deltas put on each year donating many hours to collecting and sorting donations in the weeks prior to the event and then staffing it from 6 a.m. until about 3 p.m. on the day of the event.
Each year the event is held at the Elks Club at 87 Webster St. in the Dixwell section of the city. The Deltas host the event with the help of the Epsilon Iota Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
This year’s partners included Yale-New Haven Health, the Yale African American Affinity Group, The Prosperity Foundation and the Delta Foundation of Greater New Haven.
Check out more pictures from the free market below.
The men of Omega Psi Phi lent some muscle to the market …
… while health providers like Cornell Scott Hill provided health resources …
… and the fire department provided safety training for kids.
