Bridging the Gap in a Fresh Match for Local Foods at FOTS!
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At Farmers on the Square, we believe that everyone should have access to fresh, nutritious food - no matter their income level. That's why we created Fresh Match, a program that helps low-income families get more value from their food budget and access fresh, local produce from our farmers market. Since 2013, Fresh Match has been making a real difference, but the need is growing, and we need your help to continue and expand this life-changing initiative.
What is Fresh Match?
At Farmers on the Square, customers have year-round, direct access to farmers, bakers, and small-scale processors from within 50 miles, ensuring freshness and a direct impact on small businesses in our region. Fresh Match makes healthy, local food more affordable for individuals receiving assistance from governmental programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), and the FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program). Through Fresh Match, participants who use their benefits at the market can have their funds doubled, giving them more buying power to access the foods they need to support their families and and get them directly from producers.
Every week, several community members get more from their benefits thanks to Fresh Match, but the need is greater than ever. In Cumberland County alone, over 25,000 people rely on SNAP benefits, and many more households face food insecurity. Fresh Match makes fresh and nutritious items, especially fruits and vegetables, more accessible for these members of our community, empowering families to make healthier food choices and improve their overall well-being.
How Will Your Donation Help?
With your generous donation, we can:
- Provide Matching Funds: For every $1 spent using SNAP or WIC benefits, Fresh Match will match it, up to $20 a week. FMNP and Senior FMNP funds are matched for their full amount, although the amount distributed per person has been reduced by more than half compared to last year, making this match all the more important. The more funds households have to spend at our local producer-only market, the more fresh and nutritious food they can bring home to eat.
- Support Local Farmers: This isn't just any food you're helping neighbors afford! Our vendors are all verified producers of the products they sell and based within 50 miles of Carlisle. They use innovative and sustainable methods to keep small farming viable and strong, so your gift will continue circulating and benefiting our local economy and ecosystem even after our Fresh Match recipients spend it.
- Expand Outreach: Help us reach more eligible families by funding promotional materials and outreach efforts in the community, including partnerships with local organizations like Project SHARE, Sadler Health Center, and Tapestry of Health.
- Prevent Program Interruptions: Due to funding cuts in government assistance programs, we’ve seen increased demand for Fresh Match. In late 2024, we even needed to halt matching for FMNP before the government-issued checks expired, due to almost running out of matching funds, and we may have to implement a temporary freeze on SNAP and WIC matching if we do not raise enough funds in the coming weeks (more details on this situation below). Your support will ensure that we can continue to provide these critical matching funds year-round, without interruptions.
In 2024 alone, hundreds of individuals used Fresh Match at Farmers on the Square, and we distributed a total of $19,819. This year, with your support, we are aiming to increase by at least 25% the weekly number of individuals served!
Why It Matters
Your donation isn't just about food—it's about health equity, social connections, and building a stronger, more resilient community. By giving people the ability to buy fresh, local produce, Fresh Match helps families make healthier food choices that can prevent chronic diseases, improve nutrition, and foster direct relationships with local farmers and food system professionals.
Fresh Match also gives people a sense of financial agency, freeing up limited income for other essentials like housing, utilities, and healthcare. It’s more than just food assistance—it’s a way to empower individuals and build a healthier community.
Why GoFundMe? Why Now?
In past years, we have participated in the Partnership for Better Health's annual Match Madness campaign, which arranges matching funds for many worthy local causes. We are unable to participate this year due to not receiving a grant from the Partnership in the past 2 years, and are at the same time experiencing a temporary shortage of funds for Fresh Match which we must cover soon in order to ensure uninterrupted service. Without reaching our fundraising goal, Fresh Match matching will need to be halted after March 19th due to insufficient funds.
However, thanks to a revitalized committee and organizational emphasis on Fresh Match, the program's horizons are bright and this difficult position is only temporary. The Partnership for Better Health recently awarded us a new Project Grant to cover some of this year's Fresh Match funds, as well as to promote and expand the program to reach more households. This award will grant us the opportunity to participate in Match Madness 2026 and continue building Fresh Match to reach its full potential.
Farmers on the Square is also currently applying for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status (we are currently a 501(c)(4) nonprofit), which will allow us broader access to grants and fundraising platforms with which to expand Fresh Match. This status also strengthens our commitment to improving our community's ability to access local food as a core part of our mission.
Join Us in Making a Difference
We can’t do this without you. Your donation will directly support families in need, help us spread the word about Fresh Match, and ensure that we can continue to offer this vital service for years to come.
Will you help us double the impact? Every dollar you contribute will go directly to matching funds for families, expanding outreach, and making fresh, local food more accessible to those who need it most.
Thank you for your support, and for helping us create a healthier, stronger community for all!
Organizer
Farmers on the Square Carlisle PA
Organizer
Carlisle, PA