So Close, Yet So Far:
The Reality of Food Access in Merrick Moore
By Maya Lewis, MMCDC Intern & DPS Student
The drive from Mount Zoar Baptist Church in the heart of the Merrick Moore neighborhood to the nearest grocery store (the Food Lion on Holloway Street) is only a four-minute drive. But for those not able to drive, it’s a thirty-seven-minute walk; more than an hour-long hike round trip. People are unable to drive for a multitude of reasons—age, disability, or simply not being able to afford a car—but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food.
So what about public transportation? All GoDurham buses are currently fare-free, but only two routes serve northeast Durham, and neither crosses into Merrick Moore. The closest bus stops are on the other side of Highway 70 on East Geer Street and Hardee Street at Cheek Road, a thirty- to forty-minute walk away and inaccessible to the elderly and people with disabilities. This gap in access isolates the Merrick Moore community, reinforcing the neighborhood’s status as a food desert.
Merrick Moore CDC helps fill the resource gap with the Samuel Green Sr. Community Garden, an oasis and haven for wildlife and biodiversity, located in an area surrounded by many industrial properties. The garden helps heal soil weakened by pollution and provides a home to the native flora and fauna. In a food-desert neighborhood with no public transit, the garden’s harvests could help many marginalized people access the resources they need. The garden also helps build community; beyond providing fresh, reliable produce, it offers educational and volunteer opportunities for local youth.
While the Merrick Moore CDC has made significant strides in addressing resource gaps, there remains an urgent need to advocate for equitable access to food and public transportation. This advocacy is especially critical in one of Durham’s historically Black neighborhoods, where barriers continue to isolate our neighbors from essential services. The first changes start with us!
Maya Lewis