DoubleUp, a Central Peninsula initiative launched in June, helps feed families in need by doubling the value of coupons for fresh produce distributed to income-qualified seniors and mothers with young children through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and WIC.
Heidi Chay of the Kenai Local Food Connection has details: “The Kenai Local Food Connection saw that there was a lot of need in this community for food assistance, that the Food Bank has seen a great increase in demand, and we’ve been long-time supporters of the farmers and farmers market in our area. We’ve wanted for years to have something in our community that was similar to what we’ve seen in communities across the state, which is a program that will double the value of farmers market benefits that go to low-income families. We started this year by creating our local DoubleUp program. This is specifically for mothers and young children in the WIC program, and specifically for lower-income seniors who get senior farmer’s market nutrition program coupons from the state of Alaska.”
She then discussed what WIC participants need to do in order to take advantage of this program: “If you are a mother of young children enrolled in the WIC program, the WIC program will tell you – and offer you – the farmers market coupons each year. That’s $30 worth of coupons per-person enrolled in the program, mothers and young children. If you are a mother of young children enrolled in the WIC program and you haven’t received your farmers market coupons for 2020, you should call the Kenai WIC office. If you’re already received your farmers market coupons and you want to get the DoubleUp coupons, you will take them to the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market, which is by Soldotna Elementary School, or you could take them to the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, where you would get a matching number of DoubleUp coupons. Then, you just use the coupons along with your WIC farmers market coupons to exchange hem for fresh produce at any farmers market booth or farm stand that accepts the WIC coupons, and they will also be displaying the DoubleUp sign.”
The process is similar for eligible seniors: “If you are an Alaska resident over the age of 60 and could use help paying for groceries, you can still get the senior farmers market coupons at the food bank or at the Senior Centers in Kenai, Soldotna, or Ninilchik. There’s just a simple one-page application to fill out. If you qualify, the food bank and senior center can give you DoubleUp coupons at the same visit, and that’s $60 of coupons per-person that you can spend at any of our central peninsula farmers markets.”
She also notes it’s important to know which markets are available: “There are two markets that continue through the end of September. Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. by Soldotna Elementary School, and Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the food bank on K-Beach Road. I know folks love to shop at the Wednesday Market at Soldotna Creek Park and the Friday, Saturday market in Old Town Kenai – those are open just through the end of August.”
They are accepting financial assistance via GoFundMe. DoubleUp is a project of Kenai Local Food Connection, made possible with generous donations from the Carver Family Foundation, Christ Lutheran Church, Kenai Peninsula Foundation, Kenai Peninsula Chapter of the Alaska Farm Bureau, and Bishops Attic.