Jacksonville Memorial Hospital announced on May 1 that it will again sponsor a program allowing shoppers to use a Link card to buy food at the Jacksonville Farmers Market, which opens for the season on Saturday, May 2 and runs through October 31.
The initiative aims to increase access to fresh, locally grown produce for local residents. Erika Procarione, community health worker at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, said, “The farmers market provides important access to fresh, locally grown produce that supports better overall health. The market offers families a fun vibe, encourages community connection and supports the local economy – it’s a win-win.”
The hospital received a Link Up Illinois grant from Experimental Station, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization. This grant allows the value of Link card purchases at the farmers market to be doubled and is intended to help underserved people in rural communities obtain more fresh food. Through this matching program, shoppers receive one free voucher for every $1 token they purchase; vouchers can be used for fruits and vegetables while tokens are valid for any edible item.
Additional funding support comes from the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation. The hospital reports that JMH colleagues will staff the Link booth during Wednesday and Saturday market hours only.
The Jacksonville Farmers Market is located at Pathway Plaza, 1905 W. Morton Ave., Jacksonville. It is open Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon through October 31. From May 19 through September 9, additional hours are available on Tuesdays from 7 a.m. until noon and Wednesdays from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.
