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Our Daily Veggies Program Grant Brings Fresh Food to Needy Fairfax Families
posted by HWebb
on Tue, 2011-08-30 11:44
Contact: Lisa Whetzel
703-273-8829
MEDIA ADVISORY
“OUR DAILY VEGGIES” PROGRAM PROVIDES FRESH PRODUCE
TO STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN FAIRFAX COUNTY AREA
$5,000 Grant from local church to provide vouchers for 60 families to shop at Fairfax farmers markets
FAIRFAX, VA (June 17, 2011) – A grant from a local church congregation has given Fairfax-based charity Our Daily Bread an opportunity to re-launch its “Our Daily Veggies” (ODV) voucher program, which will provide four months of assistance to its 60 Food Program clients to help them feed their families fresh produce from local farmers markets.
Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria awarded Our Daily Bread a $5,000 Shepherd’s Gate Grant to fund the farmer’s market voucher program. ODB is distributing vouchers to its Food Program clients that they can use at participating Fairfax County farmers market stands to purchase fruits and vegetables this summer and fall. The program is also made possible through cooperation with the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Farmers Market Program, which has helped promote the program to its vendors. To date, 13 farmers market vendors (listed below) have registered to participate in the program, and there is at least one participating vendor at each of the 12 Fairfax County Farmers Markets. ODB continues to seek donations from the community to extend the program to more of its clients.
Our Daily Bread Executive Director Lisa Whetzel said, “Our Daily Bread is excited to bring the Our Daily Veggies program to our Food Program clients for a second year, and we hope to find the means to extend it to all of our clients in the future. Last year, ODB families were able to purchase more than $8,000 worth of fruits and vegetables in this program. It is especially rewarding to have the opportunity to offer this service to our clients while also supporting local farms and businesses.”
Our Daily Bread is a volunteer-based organization focused on easing the plight of low-income residents in the Fairfax County area of Virginia. ODB offers emergency financial assistance and food assistance to qualified residents of the Fairfax County area and operates Back to School and Holiday assistance programs. It also provides a variety of Financial Literacy programs, including financial mentoring and free monthly budgeting classes and six-week Credit Smart courses. In addition to regularly scheduled classes, ODB can bring these classes to local workplaces and community-based organizations for free. For information on ODB’s programs, contact 703-273-8829 or visit www.ODBFairfax.org.
Participating “Our Daily Veggies” Vendors
C&T Produce, LLC
F.J. Medina & Sons
Garner’s Produce
Kuhn’s Produce
J&W Valley View Farms
Laurel Grove Farms
Level Green Farms
Ochoa Produce
Red Rake Farm
Santa Cruz Produce
Spring Valley Farm and Orchard
Sunset View Farm
Westmoreland Produce
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