Local

Capito, Manchin Announce $704k to Support Local Farmers, Encourage Healthy Food Purchases among Snap Participants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $650,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition for the West Virginia Lettuce Support SNAP Stretch project. This funding is allocated through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 and will work to incentivize and increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The project also supports both local West Virginia farmers and families by allowing their SNAP dollars to go further with purchases at farmers markets, roadside stands and other local vendors. In a second award, West Virginia University received $54,768 to support pest control programming for commercial orchardists, High Tunnel growers, vegetable and small-fruit producers, county agents, Master Gardeners, homeowners, and consumer horticulturists across West Virginia. 

“The West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition plays a key role in strengthening our state’s local food and agriculture system, and I’m glad to see this important funding headed their way at such an important time,” Senator Capito said. “This funding will both bolster our food supply chain and help families in need gain access to healthy food options within our most vulnerable communities.”

“Every West Virginian deserves access to quality, healthy foods, but often times produce is more expensive and less available in certain areas. I am thrilled USDA is investing in West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition’s project to

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Local group grows healthy food for Cancer Patients | News

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – In Nashville, it may be a Cancer Patients’ Best Friend. A local garden is full of organic fresh vegetables used in free meals for those desperately in need of them.

Missy Hamilton’s careful attention to veggies sprouting from her garden has great meaning. It’s all organic and good for cancer patients.

“Okra, butternut squash, cucumbers, huge tomatillos, wonderful herbs, stevia, all peppers you can imagine,” said Hamilton.

Over the years the Heimerdinger Foundation has delivered 125-thousand meals to cancer patients most done by volunteers. All in memory of former Titans Offensive Coach Mike Heimerdinger who died of cancer 8 years earlier. His wife Cathy picked up the ball 8 years ago and started this. The smell as much as anything proves the success. All coming from the garden. It’s all free for the first 3 months of treatment.

Cathy told News4 why she continues to carry the torch for Coach Mike.

“Because cancer is exhausting,” Cathy said. “Not only for the people who are suffering but for the people who are their caretakers. Despite there is so much information now on the internet, about nutrition and what you need to do. It’s exhausting. And you need help. And that’s what we’re here for.”

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GROW San Mateo and Samaritan House Food Pharmacy provide healthy food | Local News

GROW San Mateo formed as a collective project to provide free healthy food to promote a healthier lifestyle and educate people on the importance of fresh produce.

Bill Schildknecht started the GROW San Mateo project in March of 2019 for a collection of local gardeners grow and donate fresh produce. He learned about the Samaritan House Food Pharmacy that summer, which is a part of the organization’s free medical clinic, and began a partnership. In the spring of this year, it started to host a table at the two food pharmacy clinics in San Mateo and Redwood City.

“I think what we’ve seen though is that there obviously is a link between preventable diseases like obesity and diabetes and some of those things where food is actually medicine, and the pandemic hit those people with those ailments the hardest. So I think there’s just an increasing realization through this group of people that goes to Samaritan House that eating is not just a luxury. It’s vital to your health,” he said. “I think there’s a huge opportunity for local food to actually change a lot of the problems that we have with the current food system.”

He said he was inspired for this project by the Victory Gardens of the 1940s when communities came together.



GROW San Mateo 2

“I started GROW San Mateo as a way to grow community around the activity of plants because I saw just from my own garden here in San Mateo that plants are able to cross age

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13 Reading schools get more than $450,000 to provide healthy food to students | Local News

Thirteen Reading School District elementary schools are among 288 across the state to get federal dollars to help provide fresh fruit and vegetables to students.

The state is providing a total of $7 million to help make sure kids get healthy snacks during the school day. Reading schools will receive a total of $451,800.

The grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and administered by the state Department of Education.

“Healthy, nutritious meals are essential to a child’s growth and success,” Education Secretary Noe Ortega said in a statement announcing the grants. “These fresh food grants will help ensure students have access to fresh produce that they may not be introduced to otherwise, while also supporting their physical and academic growth.”

The grants prioritized schools with the highest rates of students who qualify for free and reduced price meals. Schools receiving funding are required to spend most of the money on buying fresh fruits and vegetable and must  develop a plan to establish partnerships to reduce other costs.

Schools receiving the grants must also provide nutrition education to students but may not use the grant money to do so.

The following are the Reading schools receiving grants and the amounts: 

  • Amanda E. Stout Elementary School — $52,455
  • Glenside Elementary School — $19,630
  • Lauer’s Park Elementary School — $34,840
  • Millmont Elementary School — $34,385
  • Northwest Elementary School — $34,580
  • Riverside Elementary School — $47,255
  • 16th and Haak Elementary School — $30,485
  • 10th and Green
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