Support for Thousands Through Community Markets and Public Restaurants

To help citizens meet their basic needs amid economic hardship, Bornova Municipality provides free shopping opportunities to 3,000 households every month through Community Markets operating at 7 different locations. In addition, Community Restaurants in three neighborhoods offer nutritious, four-course meals daily at affordable prices to around 600–700 people. Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized Bornova’s commitment to social welfare, stating, “No one is alone in Bornova.”

Free Monthly Shopping for 3,000 Households

In response to the deepening economic crisis and rising living costs, Bornova Municipality continues to support low-income residents. It has opened Community Markets in seven neighborhoods—Bornova Center, Işıkkent, Yeşilçam, Naldöken, Altındağ, Serintepe, Çamdibi, and Doğanlar—providing free and independent shopping opportunities.

Eligible citizens, whose income levels are officially verified, receive credits of 80, 90, or 100 units monthly through a card-based system, similar to a credit card. With this balance, they can obtain essential food and hygiene products at no cost. With the upcoming openings of Community Markets in Pınarbaşı and Yeşilova-Karacaoğlan, the total number of branches will increase to nine.

600–700 People Served Daily with Hot Meals

Another vital service by Bornova Municipality is the Community Restaurants. Located in Çamdibi, Kızılay, and Mevlana neighborhoods, the three restaurants serve four-course meals to an average of 600 to 700 people each day. These affordable meals are prepared by expert chefs at the municipal kitchen.

Mayor Eşki: “A Dignified Life is Everyone’s Right—No One is Alone in Bornova”

Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that the municipality sees this as a fundamental duty:
“We regularly support families struggling to meet their basic needs through our Community Markets. These are not charity services but social rights. We've created a system that protects human dignity—where people can shop freely, without shame or exposure. No one in Bornova is left behind.”

Highlighting that the Community Restaurants are not just about food but also about unity and care, he added:
“Our Community Restaurants nourish not only stomachs but also hearts. These tables bring together those in need, the elderly, students, and workers. We feel both the responsibility and the joy of delivering hot meals to hundreds of Bornova residents every day.”