Thanks to generous grant funding from the Taco Time NW Foundation, for the third straight year the Tacoma Farmers Market will increase the buying power of low-income seniors who qualify for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). This is a big deal. Here’s why. ![20150826_113818[1]](http://tacomafarmersmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20150826_1138181-300x169.jpg)
Low-income seniors who qualify for the Senior Farm Share program will receive $100 in market vouchers to buy local fruits, vegetables, plant starts, herbs, mushrooms, and honey at the Eastside Farmers Market. For some of us, $100 may not seem like a lot over the entire season. But when you consider that seniors, and senior couples, were only getting $40 per season while also losing some EBT (food stamp) benefits, this is a meaningful boost. It increases the number of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet, which has big impacts on their health.
These extra benefits are necessary because low-income seniors on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable to hunger issues. And when we heard from seniors that their SNAP benefits were being cut or eliminated completely and that many stopped applying for SNAP benefits because the process was too hard or simply not worth it, we had to help. Having seniors slip through cracks in the system simply wasn’t an option. That’s why this grant funding is so critical.
Many of TFM’s Senior Farm Share beneficiaries are non-English speakers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Russia, and Ukraine. For these customers, it’s less about the words and more about the smiles, hugs, handshakes, and even tears as we hand out our incentive vouchers. There is no mistaking the impact these additional incentive funds are having on their ability to put good food on their tables.
The Senior Farm Share program also benefits our local farmers who receive 100% of the incentive funding. Going even further, our entire community benefits as these funds are reinvested locally. Everyone wins!
Our generous sponsors make it happen and help our programs grow
This vital lifeline isn’t possible without our dedicated sponsors who continue to fund this important program. The project began in 2014 with a pilot program and a $5,000 grant from the Taco Time NW Foundation that TFM partnered with MutliCare’s Center for Healthy Living and Health Equity to apply for. The first year, we used the funds to match EBT, WIC, and senior vouchers. In 2016, funding from the United Way of Pierce County and CHI Franciscan Health jumped to $30,000 for seniors visiting our Broadway, South Tacoma, and Eastside markets.
Our fabulous sponsors again stepped up in 2017. The Taco Time NW Foundation gave us $25,000 for the Eastside Market and the City of Tacoma Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability pitched in another $9,000 allowing us to expand the program to the Broadway, South Tacoma, and Proctor Farmers’ Markets. TFM appreciates the generosity and commitment of our invaluable partners in this important work.
The objectives of the Senior Farm Share project for 2017 are: to increase access to fresh, local produce for low-income seniors who qualify for the SFMNP; increase the number of SFS participants to 400; increase the number of SFMNP vouchers redeemed at our markets; and to boost farm sales for our local farms. And thanks to our invaluable partners, we know we’ll get there.
This season alone 390 low income seniors have received benefits through our Senior Share Program.
The market is about much more than fresh food
When seniors come to the market, they leave with more than fresh, healthy food. They also enjoy a sense of community and the chance to socialize in a warm and welcoming environment. This is especially important when you consider that more than 40% of seniors suffer from social isolation, which contributes to poorer mental and physical health and a lower overall quality of life.
Our farmers markets create vibrant spaces for seniors to gather. Many stay for hours if not the entire market to visit with neighbors, get out of the house, meet our vendors, and remain active in the community. And their joy shows. Each week, market staff and volunteers working in the booth are treated to smiles and hugs from our seniors. And spreading the love — along with healthy food — is the essence of what makes TFM and our community special. Come join us!