MONROE - The Monroe Market on the Square vendors will participate in the farmers market voucher program. Currently, under the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, along with Monroe, Edgerton, Elkhorn, Evansville, Milton and ECHO clients in Janesville participate.
The program, which benefits both farmers and food pantry clients, was made possible through an anonymous donation. As part of a challenge, the donor will contribute up to $2,500 for each community by giving $1 for every $2 raised for the program.
This year the Monroe Fund, Kiwanis Club of Monroe and Monroe Clinic have partnered to donate $2,000, thus, getting an additional $1,000 matching from the anonymous donor. This will provide $3,000 in vouchers to families to purchase fresh produce and help support the local farmers.
The Monroe Food Pantry and the Green County Health Department will distribute vouchers worth $5 every week that can be used to buy fresh produce, meat, honey, cheese or eggs. Vendors will redeem the coupons with Monroe Main Street.
"This has been such a wonderful collaboration of organizations to make this happen, from the vendors to the donors." said Linda Gebhardt, Monroe Fund Donor Service.
"These vouchers will give families support with good, wholesome food when school is out and no free, reduced-price lunches are available,' said RoAnn Warden, Green County Health Department.
Sue Conley, executive director of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, agreed. "This program feeds the hungry with nutritious, fresh locally-grown food while providing income to hard-working local entrepreneurs at the same time," she said. "The only thing needed to make the program successful is the funding.'
For more information on the Farmer's Market Voucher Program or the Community Foundation of Southern WI, contact Linda Gebhardt, Donor Service, Monroe Fund at (608) 328-4060 or cfswgreen@wekz.net.
The program, which benefits both farmers and food pantry clients, was made possible through an anonymous donation. As part of a challenge, the donor will contribute up to $2,500 for each community by giving $1 for every $2 raised for the program.
This year the Monroe Fund, Kiwanis Club of Monroe and Monroe Clinic have partnered to donate $2,000, thus, getting an additional $1,000 matching from the anonymous donor. This will provide $3,000 in vouchers to families to purchase fresh produce and help support the local farmers.
The Monroe Food Pantry and the Green County Health Department will distribute vouchers worth $5 every week that can be used to buy fresh produce, meat, honey, cheese or eggs. Vendors will redeem the coupons with Monroe Main Street.
"This has been such a wonderful collaboration of organizations to make this happen, from the vendors to the donors." said Linda Gebhardt, Monroe Fund Donor Service.
"These vouchers will give families support with good, wholesome food when school is out and no free, reduced-price lunches are available,' said RoAnn Warden, Green County Health Department.
Sue Conley, executive director of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, agreed. "This program feeds the hungry with nutritious, fresh locally-grown food while providing income to hard-working local entrepreneurs at the same time," she said. "The only thing needed to make the program successful is the funding.'
For more information on the Farmer's Market Voucher Program or the Community Foundation of Southern WI, contact Linda Gebhardt, Donor Service, Monroe Fund at (608) 328-4060 or cfswgreen@wekz.net.
