Organizers issue emergency food credits for low-income families receiving SNAP benefits
Ashland.news staff report
As federal food assistance remains in limbo for many in the area, the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market has rolled out an emergency program for people who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and also helps local farmers stay afloat.
With SNAP benefit payments delayed or uncertain across many states, families who rely on the funds are going hungry. Meantime, Rogue Valley vendors who rely on the sales are taking a hit to their businesses.
The deets
The Tuesday Ashland Market is open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Nov. 25, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, at ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum at 1500 E. Main St. and Campus Way in Ashland.
The Thursday Medford Market is open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Nov. 20 at the corner of Hawthorne & E. Jackson streets.
As of last Thursday, Nov. 6, shoppers who bring their SNAP electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards to the growers market can receive emergency market money tokens — even if the card has not been loaded with funds for the month, according to a Nov. 5 news release from Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market.
Shoppers who present their SNAP card can get $40 in currency. The package includes $20 in “Double up Food Bucks” for fresh fruits, vegetables, and beans, $10 in “Protein Match” eggs, meat, and dairy, and $10 in “Emergency Market Money” that can be spent on any food product, including hot, prepared meals.
The funds are supported by a combination of local and nonprofit groups, including the Farmers Market Fund, AllCare Health, and Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market.
The market will also host “Pop-Up Pantries” in Ashland and Medford for anyone to access with no eligibility requirements. People are encouraged to donate extra produce or nonperishable goods. Any unsold food will be passed along to food banks and soup kitchens at the end of each market day, according to the press release.
The growers market’s efforts come amid funding uncertainty for the federal food assistance program. Over 16% of people in Jackson County rely on SNAP benefits, and nearly 14% face food insecurity.
“We know first hand that many families and individuals in our community depend on SNAP to put fresh food on the table every week,” said Nickole Schulz, market operations manager for the Growers Market. “Launching the Emergency Market Money program in addition to our other grant-funded nutrition programs means we can act swiftly, support locally, and bridge the gap so our community doesn’t go without.”
Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at [email protected].
