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Senior citizens encouraged to apply for checks to use at markets
new slt market-vouchers

The Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is providing low-income seniors who meet age and income requirements with $30 in checks to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey from authorized farmers at local participating farmers markets June 1 through Nov. 1. Checks are available in $5 increments.
To be eligible to receive KSFMNP checks, a senior must be 60 years old or older on the day the money is issued, and the senior’s annual gross household income (before taxes are withheld) must be at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, a household of one must have an annual gross income at or below $21,978 or a monthly gross income at or below $1,832.
Applications for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program will be available on Tuesday, May 31, at Great Bend Senior Center from 10-11:30 a.m. and at the Ellinwood Friendship Meals site from noon to 1 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 1, seniors may apply at the Barton County Health Department from 9 a.m. to noon.
Hoisington Friendship Meals site will hold program sign-up from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, June 6.
Claflin area seniors will be able to apply on Wednesday, June 15, at 9 a.m. at the Claflin Community Center following the program presented for seniors.
For more information about the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program or the schedule for program sign-up call Janel Rose at the Barton County Health Department, 620-793-1902. Local partners sponsoring the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program in Barton County are CDRR of Barton County Health Department and ElderCare Inc. Friendship Meals.
Funds are limited and benefits will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligible foods
Eligible foods to purchase with the KSFMNP checks from authorized farmers at participating farmers markets are defined as “fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, locally produced honey and herbs for human consumption that are produced in Kansas under normal growing conditions.”
The Senior Farmers’ Market Program is a project of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. The program is coordinated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which is collaborating with local partners to identify and distribute checks to eligible seniors.
The program is currently available in the following counties: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Clay, Cloud, Cowley, Cherokee, Crawford, Dickinson, Douglas, Finney, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Jowwwwwwhnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Reno, Republic, Rice, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Washington and Wyandotte.