The Feed You Neighbors program reminds me of the stories I heard growing up. Mom and Dad grew up in the depression. They would tell how people helped their neighbors with food and all sorts of things. During that time I think everyone knew that at any time it could be them who needed a helping hand. That’s what this program is, a helping hand for those who need it, with no judgment.
Over the past 26 years the Prescott Farmer’s Market (PFM) has grown to become local-food-community central, developing and supporting growers and vendors, making personal the contact between buyers and producers, and providing us all with healthy, seasonal, full-of-flavor food. Today it’s a vibrant, bustling, fun Saturday-morning ritual, complete with art, crafts, music, chefs and recently even bubbles.
PFM-sponsored projects include Community Compost, the NoCo commissary kitchen, the Prescott Seed Library, and one I hadn’t heard about: Feed Your Neighbors. A few weeks ago I sat down with PFM Administrative Specialist Marie Higgins, who edits the newsletter, coordinates volunteers, schedules guest artists and musicians, and runs the Feed Your Neighbors program. She also works a full-time job as a victims advocate for the county.
Marie explained that Feed Your Neighbors began with Covid in 2020. Within two weeks the market transformed from in-person to online service in an impressive display of resilience and creativity. While the rest of us were wondering what we could touch or breathe, the PFM assembly line of masked volunteers was filling orders, packing boxes, handing them off to drive-by shoppers, and delivering to homes as needed.
In addition to ordering online for themselves, shoppers could “Pay for a Box” to be delivered to community members who were struggling financially. Hundreds of food boxes were assembled and delivered by an enthusiastic crew of volunteers. At the same time local farmers had a market for the food they were growing. PFM staff and volunteers alike felt they were making a difference in a world out of control. The program was highly successful, and funded entirely by community donations.
When the pandemic threat eased and the market opened again, people still needed food assistance. Families were out of work and struggling to pay bills. Seniors and the immunocompromised could not get to the market. Food insecurity was raging. PFM Executive Director Kathleen Yetman and staff decided to keep the program going and call it Feed Your Neighbors.
Three and a half years later, Feed Your Neighbors assembles 50-65 food boxes every other week, each containing $50 worth of fresh fruit, vegetables and sometimes eggs, meat and bread, bought from 13 different vendors. Boxes are delivered to homes in the Prescott area, the Prescott Community Cupboard, Yavapai College Food Pantry, and picked up by the Bagdad Community Food Bank for delivery there. In addition the program expanded to include food vouchers for customers who can shop for themselves but need help paying. The demand for this voucher program has exploded over this year.
The entire FYN program costs about $7,500 per month, money that goes directly to the farmers. A third is paid with donations, and grants from Pinnacle Prevention, Purchase Local Arizona, United Way, Kroger, Fry’s and Safeway make up the difference. Still there is not enough money to fully fund the program. Marie has had to start a wait list for families in need: “This is really hard for me. It tugs my heartstrings. These people are your neighbors hitting on hard times, wondering how they’re going to pay that rent increase, struggling with medical or medication bills, stranded after their car broke down. Many work full-time at low-wage jobs. Many are multigeneration families scraping along. These are regular people who just need a little help.”
Marie calls the program a triple win. Donors get a tax credit and knowledge that they can directly help nourish families in our community. Farmers get paid, which keeps some small farms afloat and stimulates local agriculture. Participants get food that’s delicious and nutritious, resulting in better health.
At the end of Marie’s long week she’s still fully invigorated by working at the market, by the community atmosphere and by the feeling that she’s making a contribution. In the future she’d like to expand the program to reach deeper into food insecurity, develop a public space and distribution network, and stimulate more small-scale agriculture. Help Marie get rid of that wait list and build the Feed Your Neighbors program to address food insecurity in our community.
Every cent donated helps a family in need. You can donate today through the website (prescottfarmersmarket.org/feed-your-neighbors) or in person at the market.
Photos by Marie Higgins.
Chef Molly Beverly is Prescott's leading creative food activist and teacher. Photos by Gary Beverly.
