Doing Good on Jobs, Food, Regenerative Farming
A roundup of important nonprofit efforts across the city and state
No Summer Slowdown for These Nonprofits
Local Food Forum is happy to share the following information about important programs from nonprofit organizations in our local food community. Each entry is pretty long, so here are the three items.
• Food Justice Job Fair (virtual), August 4
• Chicago Farmers Market Collective/Local Food for Seniors (various locations)
• Regenerating Your Land with Your Farmer, Homer, IL, August 2
All of the following content was provided by the program organizers.
Join Chicago Food Policy Action Council and partners for our second virtual Food Justice Job Fair on August 4, 4-5 pm! We will be inviting multiple employers to share information about their organizations and the positions available. Following these brief overviews, we will open breakout rooms where job seekers can speak with prospective employers in small group settings to ask questions about the application process, work culture, etc.
Connect with employers from:
• Urban Growers Collective (multiple roles)
• Greater Chicago Food Depository (multiple roles)
• Common Threads (Farm to School Coordinator)
• Community Food Navigator (Executive Director)
• The Land Connection (Farmland Access Program Manager)
• Experimental Station / Link Up Illinois
Read full job descriptions here!
Last, but definitely not least, please continue promoting the job fair within your networks! Feel free to re-share or copy & paste CFPAC's posts here: Facebook Event, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Chicago Farmers Market Collective to Provide Free Produce to 7,500 Chicago Seniors
Chicago Farmers Market Collective to aid in distribution of $375,000 in Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits at Chicago farmers markets
July 26, 2022 (Chicago) — Members of the Chicago Farmers Market Collective, a volunteer-led group of farmers market directors, managers and staff, will aid in distributing half of the 15,000 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) benefits allocated to Chicago, valued at $375,000.
Seniors who are at least 60 years and older and are at or below 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines qualify to receive a booklet valued at $25 to spend with participating farmers now through October 31. To apply and receive SFMNP benefits, seniors can visit any of the participating farmers markets below beginning August 1.
South Side Locations
61st Street Farmers Market | 6100 S. Blackstone Avenue
Bronzeville City Market | 4700 S. King Drive
Gary Comer Youth Center | 7200 S. Ingleside Avenue
Hyde Park Farmers Market | Hyde Park Bank parking lot, S. Lake Park Avenue
Plant Chicago Farmers Market | Davis Square Park, 45th and Marshfield Avenue
Pullman City Market | 11100 S. Cottage Grove Avenue
South Shore Farmers Market | 4930 S. Cottage Grove Avenue
West Side Locations
Austin Town Hall City Market | 5610 W. Lake Street
Garfield Park Neighborhood Market | The Hatchery Plaza, 135 N. Kedzie Avenue
Logan Square Farmers Market | 3107 W. Logan Boulevard
Pilsen Community Market | 1800 S. Blue Island Avenue
West Humboldt Park Farmers Market | 3601 W. Chicago Avenue
North Side Location
Glenwood Sunday Market | 6960 N. Glenwood Avenue
Central Locations
Daley Plaza City Market | 50 W. Washington Street
Green City Market Lincoln Park | 1817 N. Clark Street
Green City Market West Loop | 115 S. Sangamon Street
Lincoln Park Farmers Market | 724 W. Armitage Avenue
Seniors spend coupons directly with participating farmers. Farmers who are not yet enrolled to accept SFMNP benefits can apply to do so through August 31.
Market managers have shared that additional volunteers will be needed to successfully roll out the program. Interested community members should check out individual markets websites and social media for more information on how to get involved.
“We are pleased to be able to assist the Illinois Department of Human Services in getting these important resources to Chicago’s seniors. Senior Farmers Market coupons support our seniors, by providing access to fresh produce, and benefit participating local farmers who grow and sell the produce. This resource complements our Link Match program, which matches Link purchases up to $25 per transaction,” said Connie Spreen, executive director of Experimental Station, the nonprofit that operates Woodlawn’s 61st Street Farmers Market.
"Farmers markets are food access hubs,” said Mandy Moody, executive director of Green City Market. “At Green City, we believe everyone deserves the right to locally-grown, nutrient-dense food and programs like the SFMNP and our GCM For All SNAP-benefits triple matching program help to make the real cost of food more accessible. We’re proud to work with other members of the Chicago Farmers Market Collective to ensure seniors have access to nutritious, local food.”
“GSM is committed to ensuring equitable access to locally grown, nutrient dense food for all. Helping to distribute SFMNP vouchers this season will help us serve the seniors in our Rogers Park neighborhood, home to one of the fastest growing senior populations in the City of Chicago. It is also a wonderful addition to our Market For All program which provides day-of triple dollar grant incentives for SNAP shoppers that alleviates hunger and provides additional revenue streams for our vendors,” said Sheree Moratto, sustainability director of Rogers Park Business Alliance which runs the Glenwood Sunday Market in Rogers Park.
“The purpose of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is two-fold,” said Stephanie Bess, Illinois WIC Director with the Illinois Department of Human Services. ”We want to encourage low-income seniors to eat more fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and honey, and we want to help farmers increase their sales of their locally-grown products.”
PRESS CONTACTS
Stephanie Bess, MS, RD, LDN
Associate Director, Office of Family Wellness
IL Dept. of Human Services
stephanie.bess@illinois.gov | 844-901-0962
Caroline Lieberman
Communications Coordinator
Green City Market
press@chicagogreencitymarket.org | 773-217-077
PROGRAM CONTACTS
Zachary Mabus
FNMP Coordinator, Illinois Department of Human Services
Zachary.Mabus@Illinois.gov | 844-901-0962
Emily Cross
61st Street Farmers Market Manager, Experimental Station
773-598-9892
ABOUT SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is jointly coordinated by Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) & Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Bureau of Family Nutrition and is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ABOUT CHICAGO FARMERS MARKET COLLECTIVE
The Chicago Farmers Market Collective works in partnership with local food access partners, state and national organizations. Our mission is to advance the local food economy through a network of community-based farmers markets in the City of Chicago. We envision a resilient, accessible and sustainable food economy in the Chicago food hub. We are united by our common goal to provide all Chicagoans with access to locally grown, nutrient dense food. We strive to support our markets, communities, vendors, customers, and one another through resource and knowledge sharing. For more information, visit the Chicago Farmers Market Collective website here or contact at info@chicagofarmersmarketcollective.org or 312-380-6129.
Note: Graphic above is a copied photo and the registration link does not work. Please click the button below to register by July 31.