$20 in Emergency Food Coupons Available at the Oxford Farmers' Market this Saturday

OXFORD, NY: Anyone who is struggling to afford food will receive $20 of Emergency FreshConnect coupons at the Oxford Farmers’ Market this Saturday, December 20, 10 am - 12:30 pm, held at United Church of Oxford, 16 Fort Hill Park. The Market has enough coupons to give $20 to 81 individuals.

These coupons can be used to purchase any eligible food item at the Oxford Farmers’ Market this Saturday or any other farmers’ market by December 31. This is the only opportunity to receive these coupons in Chenango County. Each family member present will receive $20 of coupons. There is no requirement to produce any documentation, and beneficiaries are not required to be registered to receive SNAP or any other benefits. Beneficiaries will only be asked to initial a form that attests they are food insecure.

New York State implemented this Emergency FreshConnect program on short notice when SNAP benefits were interrupted due to the government shutdown. The Oxford Farmers’ Market is holding this special pop-up market on Saturday so people can pick up these coupons and buy fresh produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, and other nutritious products at the same location.

The Oxford Farmers’ Market carries fresh food from local producers all year, which supports the county’s economy and promotes the health of its land and people. This lovingly produced food sometimes costs more than products at a big box retailer sourced from halfway around the globe where they may be produced without regard for the health of the workers, the land, and ultimately the consumers.

In an effort to make this good local food accessible to more people on a regular basis, the Oxford Farmers’ Market got approved earlier this year to accept SNAP (previously known as “food stamps”), and also takes part in a New York State-supported one-for-one match program. So, SNAP beneficiaries effectively get half of all SNAP-eligible items. More information about ongoing food assistance programs at the Market can be found on their website at: https://www.oxfordfarmersmarket.org/food-assistance-programs