Food Assistance Information Fair
Do you need help stretching your food budget? See our food assistance page for how BFM can help.
We held our third Food Assistance Information Fair on opening day this year.
We had people from statewide and local organizations to talk about how you can use SNAP (Food Stamps) and other benefits to help put more healthy food on your table.
As Congresswoman Katherine Clark said at the event in 2023, “Hunger in this country is a policy choice, and we have to make the choice that says, ‘Everybody should have what they need to eat.’”
Congresswoman Katherine Clark spoke at last year’s Fair
That same idea led Market organizers to develop the Information Fair.
Participants
The 2024 Information Fair will include representatives of statewide and local organizations who will talk to people about the SNAP, HIP and FMNP programs. The expected participants include:
Mike McCarthy, SNAP Outreach, Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)
Khady Addison, Community Outreach Coordinator, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
Leah Schenkel, Manager of Hotline Outreach, Project Bread
Pierce Ellinwood, Assistant Director, Belmont Council of Aging
Dalia Cohen, Director of Nutrition, Springwell (services for older adults)
Laurie Graham, Board Member, Belmont Food Pantry
Amy Kirsch, Co-Founder, Belmont Helps
Food assistance programs at the Belmont Farmers’ Market
BFM’s food assistance doubles SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) up to $25 weekly for each shopper. We are one of the few farmers’ markets that double Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons (FMNP) for eligible seniors and WIC families.
“SNAP matching is an amazing program and I was SO grateful you did that!!”
— A shopper using the BFM food assistance program
The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) provides an instant rebate on produce bought directly from farmers using SNAP funds. Mireia Carpio, Market Manager, said, “We added a fourth HIP farmer in 2023, and we’re glad to offer so much variety.” HIP is available to everyone who uses SNAP.
According to Dr. Suzanne Johannet, president of the Belmont Food Collaborative, “The Food Assistance Information Fair is an essential part of our mission. Far too many people are not aware of the food assistance to which they are entitled. At the Fair, and at our manager's tent throughout the season, we let people know how to access food assistance and use it to stretch their dollars further.” (Belmont Food Collaborative is the parent organization of BFM.)
“Our second goal is to inform people that food insecurity is a problem in every community, and to emphasize the role that farmers’ markets play in combating it,” said Hal Shubin, Chairperson of the Farmers’ Market Committee.
Leah Shenkel, Project Bread’s Hotline Outreach Manager, speaking last year. On the left is Congresswoman Katherine Clark, and at the right are State Rep. Dave Rogers and State Sen. Will Brownsberger.
Opening Day schedule
The ribbon-cutting ceremony starts at 1:45 pm. The Market and the Food Assistance Information Fair run from 2:00 until 6:30. Shoppers can talk with Information Fair participants throughout the afternoon to learn about the available programs. Those already enrolled can get the SNAP match and use HIP for instant rebates on produce.
Belmont Farmers’ Market volunteers at the 2023 opening day celebration, along with the day’s guests
As Project Bread says, “One of the biggest barriers preventing families from accessing food resources is, they don't know about them!” This event is a way to address that problem.
Support food assistance at the Market
Donations from the community and sponsorships from local businesses help pay for the matching program, while the Commonwealth reimburses vendors for HIP purchases. Spending those additional funds at the Market also supports local farms and businesses.
The Market’s food assistance program grew by about 25% in the 2023 season, and they expect it to grow again in 2024. Overall, the Belmont Farmers’ Market helped shoppers stretch their food budgets by $59,000 last year.
“We are committed to alleviating food insecurity in our community, through our matching programs; by educating people about the needs that exist in the community; and how to get help to put more food, and healthier food, on their tables,” said Johannet.