HomeMy WebLinkAboutVolunteer StoriesFrom a volunteer on the front lines of the market:
You have probably heard of food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
The goal of this program is to stop hunger. Participants are provided with an Electronic Benefits
Transfer (EBT) card. This benefit is a wonderful way the Oshkosh Farmers Markets assists our
community each week. The participants come from all walks of life, single parents, people on
small or fixed incomes, retired, disabled unable to work or unemployed and underemployed.
Their card allows them to purchase tokens which are used to purchase fresh vegetables, meats,
fruits, eggs etc. while at the market, which in turn, the market matches up to $20 to make fresh
food more affordable.
To share a story of one of our participants, they spoke about how much the benefit of having
their card to secure tokens has assisted their family. She shared how the program truly helps her
family during difficult times. She had her two young children with her, and they were so excited
that they were going to be able to pick out some fresh produce which they were going to use that
evening while helping their mom prepare dinner. The mom shared how earlier in the season they
had used their tokens to get several tomato and pepper plants, which were producing well and
how fun it was to plant them and watch them grow. Mom spoke about how they use the
purchased market items each week as a teaching tool with their children of importance of healthy
eating habits. This is just one of the many families that so appreciate the Oshkosh Farmers
Market providing this program. This is just one of the many wonderful stories we hear weekly.
We have partnered with the UW-Extension, which provides nutritional education tours right at
our market. These informational tours are offered to our EBT participants, many of whom are
refugees & immigrants new to our community. The tours provide the participants with tools on
how to get the most from their market experience using their EBT tokens. These tours are a great
way to introduce the participants to the abundant source of local produce which is offered each
week and the opportunity to meet our vendors. What a great way to reinforce the message of
healthy eating and welcome them to the market.