11/18/2025
Let’s talk about the real cost of accessibility.
Part 3 of the Meal-In-A-Bag Series — and this one surprised me.
Before sharing this project, I wanted to understand how realistic these meal kits are for the families we hope to support.
So I took my ingredient list and visited three stores here in Rochester: Aldi, Wegmans, and Walmart.
Here’s what I found:
🛒 Aldi — lowest cost, but missing items and hard to navigate. Great prices… but not always accessible for someone already under stress or time pressure.
🛒 Wegmans — had everything I needed, but cost about $15 more than Aldi. That’s roughly 23% more for the exact same meals.
🛒 Walmart — fast, fully stocked, low cost. And while there’s plenty to critique about Walmart, we have to acknowledge:
Boycotting is a privilege.
For families shopping with limited budget, limited energy, or two kids ready to melt down… Walmart can be the most accessible option.
This project reminded me that accessibility isn’t just about money.
It’s about time, bandwidth, transportation, store layout, and whether the ingredients are even available.
If this series inspires you and you’re in a position to help, here are two ways to support:
💛 Donate Meal-In-A-Bag Kits:
Drop them off at our office:
📍 1655 Elmwood Ave, Suite 227, Building 200, Rochester, NY 14620
💛 Contribute Directly:
Send monetary donations via Venmo — — and we’ll assemble bags on your behalf.
Community care is built through small, intentional actions that recognize the real barriers families face every day. Thank you for being part of this. 🤍✨
