The Lake County Council on Aging will once again be a distribution agent for the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The program provides limited income seniors with ten $5 coupons ($50) that can be exchanged for eligible foods at area farmers’ markets. To be eligible for this program you must be a Lake County resident, age 60 or older with a household income (from all sources) of less than $23,107 for a household of one, and $31,284 for a household of two.
THERE IS A NEW PROCESS FOR 2019 SO PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. This year SFMNP coupons will be distributed by a lottery (not first come, first served as in previous years) which will be drawn at 2:30pm on July 9th. Eligible seniors interested in applying for the program will need to submit a completed application to the Council on Aging office from July 1 through the close of business on July 8th. Applications will be reviewed and eligible applicants will be entered into the lottery. Applicants must show a valid Driver’s License or State ID at the time of application, and the address on the ID must match the application in order to be eligible. Applications will be available beginning July 1st at the Council on Aging office, on our website (www.lccoa.org) and at the local senior centers. Seniors who need assistance with shopping may have a proxy submit an application on their behalf. It is important to note that someone may only serve as a proxy for TWO individuals. If using a proxy, the senior and the proxy must sign the application, and all proxies must also show a Driver’s License or State ID. Since the office will be closed for the July 4th Holiday, it is suggested that applications not be mailed to the office. Applications received after 4:30pm on July 8th will be added to the waitlist.
The lottery drawing on July 9th will be held at the The Steven J. Ciuni Conference Center, 9220 Mentor Ave., Mentor. The Steven J. Ciuni Conference Center is adjacent to Beacon Health and can be accessed via the doors to the right (south) of the main entrance to Beacon Health. Lottery participants/winners need not be present to win and will be contacted via phone to pick up the coupons at the Council on Aging office beginning July 10th.
The SFMNP is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) with the purpose to improve the nutritional health of seniors with limited income and to increase business for local farmers throughout Ohio.
For more information, please contact Jennifer McLaughlin, ADRC Manager at (440) 205-8111.
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About Lake County Council on Aging: The Lake County Council on Aging (LCCoA) has been serving Lake County’s seniors, their families and caregivers since 1972. The Agency strives to enhance quality of life through education, advocacy, service and support. The agency’s priority is to help older adults remain in their own homes longer, healthier and more safely. For more information, visit www.lccoa.org.