A local nonprofit is hosting an economic initiative for a Black-owned grocery store in Jamaica this Sunday.
BlaQue Community Cares is hosting its BlaQue Cash Mob at Earnest Foods, an organic grocery store located at 123-01 Merrick Blvd., on Nov. 24, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A cash mob is a community-driven event designed to support local businesses by encouraging a group of shoppers to visit a specific store and spend a set amount of money, typically around $20. These events aim to boost sales, raise awareness for independently owned businesses, and strengthen community ties by promoting local shopping.
Aleeia Abraham, founder of BlaQue Community Cares, said she has hosted over 6 cash mobs since 2021, including Earnest Foods. Abraham explained that cash mobs are held throughout Queens to boost community support for local businesses. “I think it’s important to really encourage local shopping habits and strengthen the connection between residents and businesses and black businesses, particularly in Queens,” she said. “And we’ve been doing this for a while now, and we found that it really helps the community discover new businesses that they might not know exist.”
Abraham believes that the grocery store, which has been open since 2021, is an invaluable part of the southeast Queens community. “Earnest Foods really supplies the healthy food options that are hard to find in Jamaica,” she said. “Organizing this cash mob not only encourages people to shop, but it also shows our collective dollars, how it helps sustain business and directly serves and uplifts our community.”
Furthermore, Abraham said that fresh produce can be hard for many Queens residents to come by. “There’s really nowhere to go in Queens, especially Black-owned businesses in Queens to find something healthier to eat. We have to keep those businesses open,” she said. “So someone has to just make everyone aware that these businesses exist and how to keep dollars in our community.”
BlaQue Community Cares is a division of the BlaQue Resource Network, a community group founded by Abraham in 2019, which provides a space for Black Queens residents to network and share resources. BlaQue Community Cares supports local businesses through events, resources, and educational opportunities.
To sign up for the event, click here
