Every two weeks, Daniel Duncan gets on MARTA and travels to an Urban Recipe Food Co-op. He gets a variety of fresh vegetables, pantry staples and frozen protein, but he also receives something that’s even more important to him.
“It gives a peace of mind…it’s something that I look forward to doing that I know is actually gonna be there,” he said. “It’s something regular in a sea of chaos.”
Daniel joined his food co-op just over two years ago along with his next door neighbor. They heard about it through another program and decided to give it a try. He still remembers his first co-op meeting.
“I was nervous. I was using Google Maps to figure out where the building was. I didn’t know there was a bus that drove right by here, so I ended up walking from the MARTA station…And it was nerve-wracking because I was like, hopefully I’m on time. And now two years later, I’m no longer nervous about it because I enjoy it,” he reflected.
One reason he enjoys coming to co-op so much is the people.
“It’s a community…You meet many different people, personalities, attitudes, ideas, but we’re all working together to do a single project…We help each other out and do whatever’s needed. So like the term says, it’s a cooperative community…It’s almost like a family.”
Co-op members come together to sort through and distribute food, making sure each person has enough for their household. They also break down large boxes the food came in and clean up before they leave. Daniel, who has always enjoyed working with his hands, says contributing to the group in this way is very important to him.
“I do try to hit other food community things, but they’re all stand in line and get whatever they give you…I don’t like handouts too much. I like to actually try to earn what I get. So with doing this it feels like I’m actually earning what I’m getting.”
And what he’s getting is always a surprise. He never knows what will be in the boxes and bins until he gets there. Sometimes he’ll get something he thought he wouldn’t like, and love it.
“I generally hate, with a passion, peppermint. But a while ago we got some coffee, peppermint coffee, that I just started drinking and I am enjoying it greatly. When you brew it, that peppermint smell permeates the whole apartment.”
He also took eggplants, another food he didn’t like, and made eggplant noodles, using a spiralizer he got as an incentive for attending a diabetes class.
“Instead of letting them go bad, I’ve been trying to find ways to cook it or treat it in a way that I can stand.”
Daniel wants more people to know about co-op and is helping spread the word.
“I talk to people about the co-op constantly, trying to get people to join up. Even if it’s not the co-op I’m in, there are other [Urban Recipe] co-ops. Because it’s for the community.”
Learn more about Urban Recipe’s unique Food Co-op model here.
