The Hollywood Farmers Market is very happy to announce that we will be continuing Fresh Funds, our nutrition incentive program for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) participants at the market. Every week, SNAP recipients are offered a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5 to spend on eligible products such as produce, meat, seafood, cheese, edible plant starts, and some baked goods.
We are extremely grateful to New Seasons Market for generously donating to this program for the third year, and to the Hollywood Farmers Market board for authorizing market funds so we can commit to offering this program for the full May-November regular season.
This program fights hunger, helps neighbors in need, and supports a vibrant regional food economy. Even in a bountiful state like Oregon, hunger is a major concern for many Oregonians. According to the Oregon Hunger Task Force, Oregon “placed second highest among all states for a high percentage of hungry people” during the recent recession.
Over the past two seasons, the Fresh Funds program has distributed more than $15,000 to neighbors in need. In turn, this program also supports our local economy. Through increased use of SNAP benefits at farmers markets, federal dollars that might otherwise be spent elsewhere go directly into the hands of our region’s small farms and food producers. From helping out our neighbors to helping out our farmers, every facet of this program contributes to the success of our regional food economy and healthy urban neighborhoods.
