By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Live HealthSmart Alabama, a University of Alabama at Birmingham initiative, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of its newest Mobile Market at Memorial Park in Titusville.
The event, held inside the gym at 524 6th Avenue South, welcomed community members, city leaders and partners to mark the expansion of the program.
The Mobile Market was designed as a grocery-store-on-wheels, bringing fresh, affordable and nutritious food directly into Birmingham neighborhoods with limited access to healthy options. The initiative supported Live HealthSmart Alabama’s broader community revitalization efforts by reducing barriers to healthy choices and increasing access to nutritious food.
“We are growing, and we always look for innovation to provide better services for our communities,” said Dr. Mona Fouad, director of Live HealthSmart Alabama. “Today we are celebrating the evolution of the Mobile Market.”
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing food insecurity across the state.
“Almost two million Alabamians are unfortunately living in a food desert,” the mayor said. “This is a partnership that brings stakeholders together to make healthy eating not only easier for our residents, but closer access. We’re literally bringing health and wellness to neighborhoods.”
The newly unveiled Mobile Market represented a significant upgrade from earlier models. The vehicle featured expanded shelf space, doubled refrigerator and freezer capacity to support a larger inventory, and a motorized lift to improve accessibility for wheelchair users.
Program leaders said the improvements were expected to reduce product shortages and create a more comfortable, welcoming shopping environment for community members.
UAB President Ray Watts said the Mobile Market grew out of the university’s long-term commitment to improving health outcomes in Alabama, beginning in Birmingham neighborhoods such as Titusville, one of Live HealthSmart Alabama’s inaugural communities.
“We wanted to undertake a grand challenge,” Watts said. “Take on something as a complete university and health system to address a major societal problem. It has been a remarkable and inspirational journey that’s touched tens of thousands of lives.”
Since the Mobile Market program launched in 2021, Live HealthSmart Alabama has served more than 17,000 people across 40 Birmingham communities, connecting residents with more than 100,000 healthy food items.
Fouad said the new vehicle reflected lessons learned from years of operating the original truck-and-trailer model.
“We learned a lot, and we’re building on our success,” Fouad said. “This new, state-of-the-art van really looks like a great market, and we’re hopeful it will allow us to serve even more communities.”
Brenda Holyfield, president of the Kingston Neighborhood Association, said access to nutritious food had helped residents make lasting lifestyle changes.
“What do you need when you’re in a food desert? You need accessibility for nutritious food,” Holyfield said. “The Mobile Market does just that. It brings healthy food right into your community and within walking distance.”
Organizers said the ribbon-cutting marked not only the debut of a new Mobile Market vehicle, but also a continued commitment to bringing health and wellness directly into Birmingham neighborhoods, with the goal of building a healthier city and a healthier Alabama.
