Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers to be distributed

A lottery-style system will allow eligible seniors to obtain Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program food vouchers for use at local participating farmers’ markets in Clark County this summer. A limited number of vouchers will be distributed in June at four Clark County locations.

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of Washington, and is administered locally by the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) and Meals on Wheels People.  Now it its 11th year, the program continues to evolve in an effort to meet the growing need in our community.

Eligible seniors will receive $40 worth of vouchers to be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and edible herbs from farmer’s markets, farm stores and roadside farm stands that display the sign “WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Checks Welcome Here”.  If eligible participants are unable to sign for vouchers, a representative must provide a copy of a Durable Power of Attorney and a completed Proxy Form with photo ID for both senior and representative. Proxy forms are available on the Meals on Wheels People website at mealsonwheelspeople.org\SFMNP.

Eligible seniors must be age 60 or older, or age 55 and older if Native American or Alaska Native, have a monthly income of $1,799 or less for a household of one or $2,425 a month or less for a household of two, and be a Washington state resident. Photo ID is required.

To enter the Lottery to win a voucher, eligible seniors must enter their information on the Meals on Wheels People website (mealsonwheelspeople.org\SFMNP) or fill out a paper version of the form available at any Meals on Wheels People Clark County location. Seniors have until May 23 to enter the lottery.

Seniors who win a voucher in the lottery will be sent a postcard on June 4. Those who don’t win will be sent a postcard indicating that they have been added to the waitlist. Vouchers can then be picked up at the location and time indicated on the postcard.

Vouchers are good only at participating Farmers Markets and Roadside Stands (locations and maps provided to lottery winners) June 1 through Oct. 31, 2014.

For more information on the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, please contact Meals on Wheels People at 1.866.788.6325 ext. 124, or check out the AAADSW website at www.helpingelders.org.

Since 1970 the Meals on Wheels People has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 34 meal sites in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and Meals on Wheels delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of 8,550 volunteers, the nonprofit organization now serves 5,000 meals daily and 1 million meals each year. Visit: www.mealsonwheelspeople.org.