Match The SNAP - Pay It Forward
Donation protected
My name is Karen Erickson, and I share the responsibility of managing the Everett Farmers Markets in Everett, Washington with Gary Purves. We at the EFM are all about the community that participates at the market. Our philosophy at the Everett Farmers Markets is to provide food security for all, and in doing so, to insure that low-income families have increased opportunities to purchase healthy food.
Everett Farmers Market
“Match the SNAP” Pay it Forward Initiative
“People helping people, builds long-lasting community spirit.”
If you are not familiar with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), it is a federal income based nutrition assistance program. Families receive funds which are needs based, meaning benefit levels are determined by the income and resources of the family.
The goal of “Match the SNAP” Market Match program is to encourage SNAP recipients in Everett and surrounding Snohomish County to take advantage of locally grown fruits and vegetables, and to provide additional fresh, nutritious food for their families.
There are several advantages to this.
1. SNAP offers low income families to be able to afford fresh, local, and healthy food for their families.
2. The SNAP Program enables parents in low-income families a pathyway to establish healthy eating habits with their children.
3. The surrounding community benefits, because healthy eating habits lead to lower health care costs over time.
“Match the SNAP” eligible shoppers at Everett Farmers Markets (EFM) have their SNAP benefits matched up to $10 per Market day. The Market issues additional ‘Match’ money in the form of $2 script, which is redeemable at both the Friday and Sunday Markets. Established USDA rules regarding food types purchased with these benefits remain in place.
In Snohomish County (as of December 2014), 12% of our neighbors are food insecure. Help us with our goal of improving the health of our community--one man, woman and child—one family at a time. Offering a ‘Match’ incentive increases access, essentially lowering the price to fresh produce, and helps shoppers stretch their food dollars, while improving and maintaining their family’s health.
Everett and the surrounding ‘Community’ have demonstrated ample support for the “Pay It Forward Initiative” through a weekly opportunity to donate $1 or more to the contribution jar at the Market Manager’s table. The “Match the SNAP” incentive program is working, but EFM funding will run out prior to Season’s end, October 16, 2016.
All “Match’ incentive contributions are deposited to the Food From Farms (501c3) bank account set up for SNAP transactions. Read more about Food From Farms http://foodfromfarms.org
Alternative forms of contribution to the Match the SNAP program include writing checks to "Food From Farms". Note in the memo field: for "Match theSNAP." Please hand checks to staff at the Market Manager’s Booth.
Thank you for your consideration.
Please help us to achieve our goal of providing nutrition for families in our area.
Thank You in advance for "Paying It Forward"
Everett Farmers Market
“Match the SNAP” Pay it Forward Initiative
“People helping people, builds long-lasting community spirit.”
If you are not familiar with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), it is a federal income based nutrition assistance program. Families receive funds which are needs based, meaning benefit levels are determined by the income and resources of the family.
The goal of “Match the SNAP” Market Match program is to encourage SNAP recipients in Everett and surrounding Snohomish County to take advantage of locally grown fruits and vegetables, and to provide additional fresh, nutritious food for their families.
There are several advantages to this.
1. SNAP offers low income families to be able to afford fresh, local, and healthy food for their families.
2. The SNAP Program enables parents in low-income families a pathyway to establish healthy eating habits with their children.
3. The surrounding community benefits, because healthy eating habits lead to lower health care costs over time.
“Match the SNAP” eligible shoppers at Everett Farmers Markets (EFM) have their SNAP benefits matched up to $10 per Market day. The Market issues additional ‘Match’ money in the form of $2 script, which is redeemable at both the Friday and Sunday Markets. Established USDA rules regarding food types purchased with these benefits remain in place.
In Snohomish County (as of December 2014), 12% of our neighbors are food insecure. Help us with our goal of improving the health of our community--one man, woman and child—one family at a time. Offering a ‘Match’ incentive increases access, essentially lowering the price to fresh produce, and helps shoppers stretch their food dollars, while improving and maintaining their family’s health.
Everett and the surrounding ‘Community’ have demonstrated ample support for the “Pay It Forward Initiative” through a weekly opportunity to donate $1 or more to the contribution jar at the Market Manager’s table. The “Match the SNAP” incentive program is working, but EFM funding will run out prior to Season’s end, October 16, 2016.
All “Match’ incentive contributions are deposited to the Food From Farms (501c3) bank account set up for SNAP transactions. Read more about Food From Farms http://foodfromfarms.org
Alternative forms of contribution to the Match the SNAP program include writing checks to "Food From Farms". Note in the memo field: for "Match theSNAP." Please hand checks to staff at the Market Manager’s Booth.
Thank you for your consideration.
Please help us to achieve our goal of providing nutrition for families in our area.
Thank You in advance for "Paying It Forward"
Organizer
Karen Erickson
Organizer
Everett, WA
