Fresh Produce Available for Senior Citizens

Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Low income senior citizens of Thomas County may be eligible for a food program that provides three separate food bundles of unprocessed fruits, vegetables and honey from local farmers. The first distribution day will be Thursday, Sept. 17.

Additionally, tentative distribution dates are also scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 1.

"Food bundles of fresh fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs are local," says program coordinator Maureen Ostmeyer of LiveWell Northwest Kansas. "Produce is grown within 400 miles from Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas."

To Apply

To apply for the program contact Maureen at (785) 465-9103 or maureeno@nwksprevention.com. Information regarding distribution location and times will be made available at the time of application.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, residents of Thomas County must be at least 60 years of age on the day the food bundle is issued. And, before taxes are withheld, the senior citizen must have annual gross income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. For example, a household of one must have an annual gross income at or below $23,606 or a monthly gross income at or below $1,968.

The 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 bundles to eligible seniors.