Friday, May 20, 2016 was the day before the opening of the Oak Park Farmers Market. And the eve of the Farmers’ Market has become the night of the annual Shawnash open house. This annual event celebrates making healthy vegetables and fruits available to all.
A highlight of our event is the tasting of fine Oregon wines from the Willamette Valley, provided through the generosity of Lisa Taaffe, Mid-West Region Manger of the Union Wine Company.
Several churches in the area have come up with creative ways to support the program with donations. Anne White of Unity Temple told about church members holding a regular ‘farmers’ market’ to sell local produce after the Sunday service and donating the proceeds to Shawnash to support the Double Value Coupon Program. She presented a $300 check from the first sale.
Anne is describing the DVCP fund raising efforts of Unity Temple.
Notable among the new faces at our benefit was Oak Park State Senator Don Harmon. Senator Harmon noted that he seldom is able to attend a celebration of legislation he is sponsoring, but that is essentially the case for HB6027, HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVES Act. If passed, this legislation would enable a state agency to pool state and federal funds for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives (up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP (LINK Card) benefits spent on fruits and vegetables at participating Illinois farmers markets and producer-to-consumer venues. Senator Harmon’s remarks were well received.
Below are photos from this year’s benefit. Again this year, everyone had a great time for a great cause.
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Posted: May 21 by Warren Bakker
2016 Annual Benefit Highlights
Friday, May 20, 2016 was the day before the opening of the Oak Park Farmers Market. And the eve of the Farmers’ Market has become the night of the annual Shawnash open house. This annual event celebrates making healthy vegetables and fruits available to all.
A highlight of our event is the tasting of fine Oregon wines from the Willamette Valley, provided through the generosity of Lisa Taaffe, Mid-West Region Manger of the Union Wine Company.
Several churches in the area have come up with creative ways to support the program with donations. Anne White of Unity Temple told about church members holding a regular ‘farmers’ market’ to sell local produce after the Sunday service and donating the proceeds to Shawnash to support the Double Value Coupon Program. She presented a $300 check from the first sale.
Notable among the new faces at our benefit was Oak Park State Senator Don Harmon. Senator Harmon noted that he seldom is able to attend a celebration of legislation he is sponsoring, but that is essentially the case for HB6027, HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVES Act. If passed, this legislation would enable a state agency to pool state and federal funds for the purpose of providing matching
dollar incentives (up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP (LINK Card) benefits spent on fruits and vegetables at participating Illinois farmers markets and producer-to-consumer venues. Senator Harmon’s remarks were well received.
Below are photos from this year’s benefit. Again this year, everyone had a great time for a great cause.
Category: Annual Benefit
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