Metcalfe County Farmers Market and Metcalfe County Schools Family Resource Youth Service Center address local food insecurity with a locally funded Farmers Market voucher program.

The goal of the 2019/2020 MCS and MCFM partnership, facilitated by the Farmer's Market Board, Metcalfe County FCS Extension and Metcalfe County School Administration, was to provide locally grown fresh produce to families in Metcalfe County whose children are enrolled in the Metcalfe County school system. 2019 was the first year and 12 Families with limited resources leading to food insecurity, were assisted by this program.

To fund the program, $1000.00 was donated from the Metcalfe County School Board and Family Resource Centers.  $240.00 in vouchers were distributed on an as needed basis, determined by the Family Resource Youth Service Center staff in each of the three schools.  A balance of $760 remains and will be allocated for the 2020 Farmers Market Season.

The Vouchers can be used for any edible item at the Metcalfe Farmers Market, with no cash back provided for vouchers.  Vouchers come in a pack of four, $5.00 vouchers totaling $20.00.  Families bring the vouchers to the Farmers Market Manager and receive wooden coins in the same dollar amount, to be spent with any of the vendors who have edible items.

The Farmer's Market Manager submits vouchers spent, to the school system fiscal officer who then cuts reimbursement checks to the Metcalfe County Farmer's Market for the spent vouchers.  The Market Manager submits an end of season report to Metcalfe Co. School Family Resource Youth Service Center, Metcalfe County FCS Extension Agent and the Farmers Market, Board Chair.