Doubling Up at the Farmers’ Market

The Hendricks County Community Foundation awarded $400 from the Deedee Daniel Opportunity Fund to the Danville Wellness Coalition through their fiscal agent, Kids’ Summer Lunch Bunch.  The grant was used to purchase sandwich boards to display at local farmers’ markets to spread awareness about various food program benefits.

It is estimated that over 76% of Hendricks County residents do not eat enough fruits and vegetables each day.  The Danville Wellness Coalition is working in Danville and across the county to address this concern as well as other focus areas related to limited resource individuals and families.  The focus areas include diet quality, physical activity, food resource management, food security and food safety.

The sandwich boards are being used to let customers know that WIC, Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks, and Double Up Produce checks are accepted at that market. The FMNP and Double Up Produce programs provide a once-per-season benefit to qualifying WIC and senior households who wish to participate. Double Up Produce is an incentive program funded by IU Health West and Hendricks Regional Health that complements the FMNP program by giving eligible participants additional purchasing power to buy fresh produce at local farmer’s markets.

“Not all markets or vendors in Hendricks County are certified to accept the FMNP or Double Up Produce checks.  The signs tell WIC and senior participants that the checks are accepted and welcome at that market,” said Mindy Duckett, Community Wellness Coordinator with Purdue Extension.  “This is a great way for families and seniors to have more buying power to purchase the fresh fruits and vegetables they need.”

The focus of the Community Foundation’s unrestricted grantmaking is nonprofit capacity building, and this grant is an example of functional capacity building that enhances through capital purchases the work of local organizations like the Danville Wellness Coalition and the Kids’ Summer Lunch Bunch.  William Rhodehamel, HCCF’s President and CEO said, “One of the best parts of summer is the harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables grown right here in our hometowns, and we consider it a privilege to partner with our local nonprofits to help families, children and seniors in our community reap the benefits of the harvest.”

The Hendricks County Community Foundation partners with generous people to realize their charitable goals while addressing community needs in meaningful and lasting ways.  The Community Foundation manages assets of over $13 million in a collection of funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for charitable purposes. In 2016, the Community Foundation gave over $860,000 in grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to local students. For more information, call 317-268-6240 or visit www.hendrickscountycf.org.