Families suffering from food insecurity is an increasing need in our community.  God’s Pantry Food Bank regional warehouse estimates that one in five children and one in four senior citizens are utilizing their services at least once a month.   To address this need, the Laurel County Extension Office is collaborating with several local organizations to ensure access to sufficient food supplies for individuals and families.

London Laurel County Farmers Market vendors have been accepting WIC Farmers Market Vouchers for three years with a redemption rate of 24%, which is much higher than average.   Individuals who have redeemed the vouchers at the market have indicated their appreciation for the opportunity to prepare fresh fruits and vegetables for their families.

Last fall I submitted an application on behalf of the London Laurel County Famers Market for the Senior Citizen Farmers Market Voucher program and was subsequently awarded $2,100 in vouchers.  The Family and Consumer Sciences agent has agreed to be the cooperating distributing organization and will be at the farmers market to distribute vouchers to qualifying senior citizens throughout the month of July.   In preparation for the 2019 market season and the redemption of both types of vouchers, I conducted educational workshops for the vendors in Produce Best Practices; trained them in WIC Voucher program updates; and then provided certification training that will allow them to accept Senior Farmer’s Market Vouchers for the 2019 season.

We are thrilled to have an opportunity to offer a program in collaboration with Feeding America, God’s Pantry Food Bank, London Laurel County Farmers Market and local farmers utilizing the MealConnect app.  The MealConnect app is currently being used across the country to connect excess quality food items that restaurants and caterers have at the end of the day/event with organizations that can distribute the food, such as homeless shelters, abuse shelters, and food banks.  The donating entity simply opens the app, snaps a picture of the food they want to donate, schedules a time that the food will be available, and hits “send.”  The app then sends a notification to trained volunteers in the area.  Our local farmer’s market vendors and area farms will be the first in the nation to be connected to this program.  

The Family and Consumer Sciences agent and I hosted a meeting to train volunteers on proper food handling and procedures for picking up food at restaurants and for picking up frozen meat and raw produce from the farmers market and local farms.   Volunteers maintain a food log and must utilize special kits for transporting the food, including thermal blankets and thermometers, which can be checked out from the Laurel County Extension Office.  The farmers were also trained and registered for the program following the volunteer training.  The farmers’ donations will be weighed and logged when picked up, and they will receive an enhanced charitable donation tax deduction.  Farmers are also protected by the Good Samaritan Act for liability.   The food that flows thru the MealConnect app is normally in the hands of needy people within eight hours, so all food that is collected with stay in our local area.  The program is already showing an impact on our community, as the training was conducted on Thursday evening and the first request for produce pickup at the farmers market was sent out to volunteers on Saturday afternoon.