First Lutheran Church's food pantry asks county for $1,000 to help pay for farmers' market vouchers

Low-income individuals and families who qualify for assistance from First Lutheran Church's food pantry in Decorah this past summer also received vouchers good for purchases at the Winneshiek Famrers Market.

Food pantry volunteer Barb Dale says the program was "wildly popular"--so much so that the food pantry ran out of vouchers in October after giving out almost $19,000 in coupons.  She says people who need help paying for food appreciate the selection at the Farmers Market, which she says is "far wider and far fresher" than what the Food Pantry can offer.

Around 750 adults and children benefited from the vouchers, which could be used to buy fruit, vegetables, meat or eggs at the Farmers Market.  Recipients got anywhere from $10 to $20 a month in vouchers, depending upon their family status.

On Monday Barb Dale and Carolyn Flaskerud, representing the Food Pantry, asked county supervisors for $1,000 in funding for next year's program.  The two said Food Pantry volunteers are trying to raise an extra $10,000 in donations for 2016 to extend the voucher program to cover the entire season.