The efforts of the Central California Food Bank and the Fresno Mission to feed people in need got the attention of the country’s biggest pharmacy, and with it, a half-million-dollar grant.

The $525,000 from CVS Health will go to the First Fruits Market at the Fresno Mission City Center to help the Food Bank employ workers transitioning out of homelessness.

City Center is the new social services hub from the Fresno Mission on Dakota Avenue just east of Blackstone Avenue. The Central California Food Bank and the Mission debuted the free grocery store in 2023.

“We had a vision at City Center that by working together we were going to suck in more good for our community — that we could do more good together than we could apart,” said Matthew Dildine, CEO of the Fresno Mission.

First Fruits Market Has Fed 10,000 Different Families

CVS chose the First Fruits Market because of the connection between diet and overall health, said Bobby Dhaliwal, pharmacy district leader with CVS Health.

“Fresno is considered the fruit basket of the world, but the irony is 1-in-4 people, 1-in-3 children are at risk for hunger,” Dhaliwal said. “So CVS committed over a half-million dollars with local organizations to help solve that problem.”

The store is open three days a week, and about 240 people each day visit to pick out canned fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, meats, and healthy snacks. This month, Starbucks donated breakfast sandwiches.

Patrons can come twice a month and all food is free.

“You look at what’s happening at First Fruits Market, since they’ve been open, they’ve served over 10,000 unique families… people that are getting healthy food, fresh food,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

Related Story: $1.5M Donation from Fresno Couple Gets Fresno Mission Close to First Big Goal

Grant to Help Train Workers at First Fruits

Cristal Hill works at the Food Bank, scheduling appointments and filling grocery carts for people picking up food.

“I love seeing the faces, because you can see the struggle and see the pure happiness in their face, the relief that they have knowing that this is provided for them,” Hill said.

Hill began working at the Food Bank after completing the Mission’s 18-month Rescue the Children recovery program. She had previously been homeless, dealing with addiction.

After completing the program, finding a job that met her and her 4-year-old daughter’s needs was difficult to schedule.

“Now that I have this, I’m able to provide for me and my daughter,” Hill said. “I have a roof over my head. I can support myself because I have this job, because I have this program to help me out.”

The CVS grant will help pay for workforce development at the First Fruits Market.

“We have people coming out of homelessness. As opposed to them going and picking up trash on the highways, they actually go and work at the Central California Food Bank in a real job helping people,” Dildine said. “It dramatically changes their lives and their perspectives.”

City Center’s All-Around Service Hub

Fresno Mission built the $38 million facility specifically for its central Fresno location. The center includes not only the market, but a daycare center, free clothing closet for foster youth, barber shop, coffee shop, and offices for mental health appointments or financial literacy classes.

In coming months, a 72-unit housing complex specifically suited for families with children will open.

The goal for Dildine was coordinating with Fresno’s different nonprofits to provide for all the various needs people have.

“We want them to access the other services that are beyond just a relief item, we want them to be able to track that they are pursuing things to make their personal health better or their mental health better, or their ability to get jobs better, or their financial literacy,” Dildine said.