Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc., is accepting applications for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
This program provides older citizens who meet income guidelines with greater access to locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs and supports local farmers.
To qualify, recipients must:
- Be at least 60 years old.
- Live within MEOC’s service area of Wise, Lee and Scott counties and the City of Norton.
- Have income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. The monthly income limit for a one-person household is $2,322; for a two-person household, it is $3,151.
Qualified individuals will receive $50 worth of checks in $5 increments to spend at local farmers markets beginning June 1 through the end of the markets’ season. This year, MEOC will distribute 1,000 voucher books to eligible participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Call MEOC at (276) 523-4202 to apply.
Emergency Services Director Marsha Craiger will be available to sign up interested individuals at two local housing authority sites in early May. Those include:
- Norton Regency Towers, 200 6th St. NW, Norton, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Stone Briar Apartments, 16600 Broad St., St. Paul, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Craiger will conduct sign-ups at the MEOC Connections Senior Centers county-wide meetings in late May. Meeting locations and dates are as follows:
- Lee County, May 22, First United Methodist Church, 41880 E. Morgan Ave., Pennington Gap, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Scott County, May 23, Hiltons Memorial United Methodist Church, 2869 Hiltons Road, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Wise County/City of Norton, May 24, Norton Community Center, 2001 Park Ave. NE, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Take advantage of this opportunity to access fresh, locally grown produce and support your community’s farmers!
MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM
By federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax to (202) 690-7442; or
(3) E-mail to program.intake@usda.gov.
MEOC is an equal opportunity provider.