SitemapGrants Stretch Food Dollars at Farmers’ Markets
Low-income residents in Youngstown and Warren have responded positively to efforts that encourage them to buy and eat locally grown, healthy food.
The Western Reserve and Trumbull Memorial health foundations have recognized the importance of these initiatives by providing grants to neighborhood non-profit organizations in both cities. The programs run the gamut from local farmers’ markets to cooking classes to community gardens.
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., awarded a grant of nearly $23,000 from WRHF, spearheads a Healthy Cooking Promotion. YNDC has conducted 45 cooking classes throughout the city, according to Liberty Merrill, land use director.
“We put this information out to groups that we think can use our help and we let them know the programs are available to them,” she said. “We believe nearly 1,000 people have attended these classes.
“The instructors live in the community and are very experienced in talking about nutrition. Most of the people who attend are already receiving services within the organization.”
Each attendee also received a $5 cash voucher to be used at local farmers’ markets.
In Warren, the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership has expanded its outreach to low-income residents with its Project GROW (Garden Resources of Warren) in cooperation with vendors of the farmers’ market held on Tuesdays in Courthouse Square. It is the only farmers’ market in Warren. In addition, TNP supports 10 community gardens.
“We’re starting to see the emergence of more urban growers and this year was the first time we had Warren growers participating in the market,” said Matt Martin, TNP executive director.
Martin said the organization has partnered with Warren’s Second Baptist Church to provide its church vehicle to transport residents to the market.
“It’s been very popular and ridership is going to increase,” Martin said. “The point is to get them to come to the market and spend money on fresh local food that benefits consumers and vendors.”
Among the funding sources is a $10,000 TMHF grant.
Frequenting the farmers’ markets instead of traditional supermarkets enables recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds to double their buying power, providing a strong incentive to choose the healthy, fresh foods.
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