PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philabundance is getting closer to its goal of opening a full-service supermarket in the city of Chester.

Speaking during a hunger symposium inside the Cira Center on Thursday, Philabundance executive director Bill Clark revealed the organization has raised $2-million of the $4-million it needs to renovate and outfit a former supermarket at Ninth and Trainer Streets in Chester.

He says the organization is pressing for donations from a variety of sources and is hopeful of opening the doors within nine months to a year.

Clark says Chester residents have been in a food desert for some 10 years — that is, without a supermarket where they can buy food.

“They have to put the food on their table by buying it through little corner convenience stores and they end up paying a lot more for it.”

Clark says in most cases it’s 10-15% more than one would pay at a supermarket.

He says the Philabundance market would have most everything a regular supermarket has. And, prices for many items would be lower and some available for no cost, depending on a shopper’s income.

Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio 1060