Dear Friend,
We are asking you to donate to Food AND Medicine's EBT Fund so that local farmers can provide a 50% discount to EBT (formerly known as Food Stamps) users purchasing local food at Bangor’s two farmers’ markets that accept EBT. This cause needs funding NOW!
“Customers are amazed and often emotional when they find out they will be charged half price for their food. They are incredibly appreciative. All of the vendors have been very happy to be able to offer the discount and attract new customers.”
(Clayton Carter, Chairman, Bangor Farmers’ Market Association; Farmer, Fail Better Farm)
Here’s how it works: an EBT user gets $30 worth of fresh vegetables, pasture-raised meat or other local products at either the Bangor Farmers’ Market or the Ohio Street Farmers’ Market. They swipe their EBT card and it deducts only $15. The remaining $15 owed to the farmer is paid by the EBT fund. This is great for local farms and for those with low incomes. Help build Bangor into a place where sustainable, local agriculture can feed us all!
Please click here to make an online donation or email me at jack@foodandmedicine.org with your pledge and send a check. Checks should be made out to "Food AND Medicine, Jobs with Justice Education Fund" with EBT Fund in the memo line, and mailed to Food AND Medicine, 20 Ivers St. Brewer, ME 04412. All donations are fully tax-deductible.
Donors at these levels and be recognized in promotional materials:
SEED (a gift of $25 to $74)
SPROUT (a gift of $75 to $199)
PLANT (a gift of $200 to $499)
HARVEST (a gift of $500 and up)
Or make your gift anonymous. Food AND Medicine has already raised over $6,000 to this effort, and it’s benefiting local farms and low-income families tremendously.
Our goal is to raise $5,000 more. We need to let the markets know ASAP if we can raise that money. Please donate online now or e-mail me right away if you intend to donate!
You will be joining these Bangor-area elected leaders and candidates from both major parties in supporting the EBT Fund. (see list below).
A little goes a long way. Here’s what the two farmers’ markets have to say:
The returning vendors report that their sales are far in excess of the last year, and all vendors have expressed satisfaction with their sales figures, both EBT and regular purchases...
I believe that our partnership with Food and Medicine has brought new life to the Ohio Street Farmers’ Market, and I expect that we will see continued growth this season and in the future!
Rolf Staples, Sr., Market Manager, Ohio Street Farmers’ Market
Bangor Farmers’ Market, which opened in June 2012, has fast become a vibrant part of downtown Bangor. Food AND Medicine is currently providing funding through their EBT Fund to make all purchases with EBT benefits half price. This program has met an enthusiastic response from both vendors and customers.
We are seeing a higher percentage of SNAP customers at this market than at any other market where we sell.
(Clayton Carter, Chairman, Bangor Farmers’ Market Association; Farmer, Fail Better Farm)
All Bangor state legislators and their opponents support the farmers' markets and the EBT Fund, including Senator Nichi Farnham (R-Bangor), Representatives Adam Goode (D-Bangor), Doug Damon (R-Bangor), Sara Stevens (D-Bangor) and Jim Parker (R-Bangor) and current legislative hopefuls John Schneck (D-Bangor), Aaron Frey (D-Bangor), Samuel Canders (R-Bangor) and Mary Budd (R-Bangor).
City Councilors who donated include Joe Baldacci, Geoff Gratwick, James Gallant and Charlie Longo.
These politicians, despite differing agendas, have come together to support accessibility of local food for all, and we at Food AND Medicine thank them for that.
Below, please see some of the coverage of our efforts for the EBT Fund.
We hope you can donate to help make a difference for many families and farms, and support the accessibility of local food for all!
In Solidarity,
Jack McKay, Director
Food AND Medicine
Bangor elected officials, candidates fund banner for Ohio Street Farmers Market
By Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff
Posted June 20, 2012, at 9:26 p.m.
BANGOR, Maine — A new banner funded by Bangor elected officials and candidates was unfurled Wednesday at the Ohio Street Farmers Market.
Contributing $25 or more apiece toward the banner’s cost were Sen. Nichi Farnham, R-Bangor; Rep. Doug Damon, R-Bangor; Rep. Jim Parker, R-Veazie, Rep. Adam Goode, D-Bangor; Mary Budd, a Bangor Republican candidate for the Maine House; John Schneck, a Bangor Democrat seeking a House seat; and Bangor City Councilors Geoff Gratwick, Joe Baldacci, James Gallant and Charlie Longo.
“The strong bipartisan support for the banner owes itself to the clear community consensus that it’s both the right and the smart thing to support area farms, healthy, local food and giving support to those in need,” said Scott Cuddy, a board member for Food AND Medicine, a local nonprofit that has created a fund to help low-income customers buy food at the market.
“The banner fulfills a clear need, as it is hard to see the market from the road,” he said.
Now in its third year, the Ohio Street Farmers’ Market is sponsored by the Bangor Grange. It is located at Grange Hall at 1192 Ohio St. and is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays through Nov. 21.
The market’s seven vendors offer a variety of local products, including pork, lamb, milk, eggs, vegetables, baked goods and bread, according to Grange Master Rolf Staples, the market manager.
The market is equipped to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp, cards. EBT Fund discounts also are available at the Bangor Farmers Market, which is open from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays at Abbot Square, across from the Bangor Public Library.
Customers who use EBT cards get a 50 percent discount on food they buy the market. The discount is provided through a fund established by Food AND Medicine, a local nonprofit group that is working to increase access to local, healthy food.
“We had that the second week we were open and have had it ever since,” Staples said. “We’re exceptionally pleased with what’s happened this year.”
“We are very happy to work with Food AND Medicine again this year,” Staples said. “Their EBT Fund really helps us accomplish our goal, providing fresh, high quality local food to all.”
Jenna Perkins is an EBT user who began shopping at the farmers market because of the discount. A college student expecting her second child, Perkins has developed gestational diabetes and her doctor has told her to eat healthy food. She did not know how to afford it until she saw a flyer about the EBT Fund.
“The fund is really amazing,” Perkins said. “It’s meant that I can eat the way I should for both myself and my unborn child. This is great for me and other people should know about and support the program also. The program not only helps the person on food stamps now, it also helps them build some stability for later.”
http://www.wabi.tv/news/31113/ebt-customers-get-discount-at-local-farmers-markets
EBT Customers Get Discount at Local Farmers Markets
by Caroline Connolly - June 20th 2012 10:28pm - Read more Local News
Bangor - There's something refreshing about going to a market where the price check doesn't force you to lighten your grocery load.
"I came here and it was amazing," said customer, Jenna Dumoulin.
Dumoulin is feeding her family with the help of the state's food supplement program. For her, eating right had always come second to the right price until she realized she could get both at local farmers markets.
"I'm learning so much about vegetables and animals and things like that I never knew before," said Dumoulin.
The Ohio Street and downtown Bangor farmers markets started taking EBT cards this year, and now if you have one there's an added benefit.
"They automatically receive a 50% discount," said Scott Cuddy of Food and Medicine.
The group is using $6,000 of grant money and donations to refund vendors for selling their products at half price.
"I think it creates a very healthy food system where people who are short on money get the food that they need, and not only is it food, but it's good food from here," said Emily Hill, a vendor from the South Paw Farm and Fuzzy Udder Creamery.
The move is a refreshing change for customers, like Dumoulin, who are in the market for a healthier lifestyle.
http://www.wvii.com/stories.html?sku=20120620165108
Farmer's Market Aims at Feeding Those on Nutritional Supplement Programs
Updated: 5:51 pm, 06/20/2012
BANGOR - Fresh vegetables and other high quality food products at farmer's markets are now being made available to those couldn't afford them before.
"Food and Medicine," a Brewer-based working families support group has raised over $6,000 to offer those on food assistance programs such as SNAP and EBT, a 50% discount on purchases at the Ohio Street Farmer's Market.
For one mother, who's a full-time college student, this is a decision she's making to feed her family healthily.
"If they come here first and see that there's a different way of living and there's variety, they're going to pay 50% off yogurt that is very good for you, and vegetables here that are not sprayed with pesticides, to feed their families healthy," says Jenna Dumoulin, mother and college student.
The farmer's market is held every Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Bangor Grange at 1192 Ohio Street.
Food AND Medicine
20 Ivers St. Brewer, ME 04412
(207) 989-5860/ Toll-free Worker Rights Hotline 1-866-933-WCEM
Visit foodandmedicine.org for a calendar of events and more info!
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Food AND Medicine is an affiliate of Jobs with Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice