Once again the Livingston Food Resource Center worked hard to increase the access of local food for community members experiencing food insecurity.
The LFRC Healthy Families Tent provides increased access to local produce for low income families and information about additional community resources. Since 2021, the LFRC Fresh Produce Token Program has allocated over $25,000 of purchasing power to food insecure families to buy fresh produce from local farmers at the market.
Not only does this encourage better nutrition in the home, it engages families in a community event that they often feel excluded from, while supporting the important work of our Montana farmers. In addition to Fresh Produce Tokens, the Healthy Families Tent is also where SNAP recipients can redeem their benefits to buy fresh eggs, produce and meat. For every SNAP dollar redeemed, the state matches this with a Double SNAP “dollar” that can be used exclusively for fresh produce.
This season by the numbers:
- We supported 25 local produce, meat, seafood and honey vendors.
- Served 653 people at the tent.
- Saw an increase in coupons used by visitors from 13% in week one to 81% by week 15. This is an average of 25 more people per week.
- Repeat clients went from 25% in week two to 90% in week 15.
- Every week also saw 3-8 new people visiting the tent for the first time and using a coupon.
- $234 SNAP dollars redeemed and $238 double SNAP dollars redeemed
- $6,249 TOTAL given to clients to access fresh, local produce
In today’s world, the need for community support and access to nutritious food is more critical than ever. As summer has reached its end, the LFRC, partnered with the Livingston Farmers Market, has increased fresh produce in the lives of our residents and made our community healthier and happier!
