BSG Farmer Market Fund
Donation protected
The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market Needs Your Help to build our market that is already 10- Years strong. We are a non-profit organization and depend solely on donations from local businesses and individuals, as well as small grants.
Your contribution will help make this and more possible. Could you make a donation toward this need today? Any size gift will help.
How to Give a Gift: The quickest way for us to receive your gift is here online. OR you can Mail a check, payable to The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market, P.O. Box 483, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
The Farmers Market is a public-service, tax-deductible nonprofit organization. Its primary mission is to increase the availability of local, fresh, nourishing, safe produce and related products.
The Problem:
When the BSGFarmers Market opened in 2008, we were small and only had a minimum of administration responsibilities. Now, the market is a nonprofit organization, accepts SNAP/EBT Credi/Debit payments, Senior coupons, Kid Bucks, advertising must be done, facebook and website’s maintained and reports must be written, license fees to be paid and so on.
What funding we do receive other than space fees, goes toward those costs.
Our Market supports local farmers and growers, bakers, craftspeople and emerging farmers by providing a low cost, relaxed atmosphere where new vendors can learn to market their products.
Our market can provide a showcase for local musicians, and other artisans, and hosts family activities as well as gardening classes and food demonstrations.
We do some of this, but not as much as we would like to. The Market is a welcoming gathering hub for the entire community, strengthening connections between neighbors and organizations serving the surrounding area. Our neighborhood is home to a rich culture of people.
Our town and surrounding communities are food deserts, which makes the BSGFarmers Market a much needed resource to families and individuals seeking low cost, locally grown foods.
The Market is located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, which lies in the extreme southwestern corner of Virginia in the central Appalachian Mountains. The BSGFarmers Market serves its’ community, as well as the counties of Wise, Lee, Scott and the City of Norton.
The primary industry is coal mining, whereas the region’s coal industry has declined for many years. This makes this region to be one of the most economically depressed areas in the nation. This contributes to the area as being a food desert.
A food desert is a specific area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. Therefore the BSGFarmers Market participates in the SNAP/EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Virginia’s Senior Nutrition (WIC) Program and we created our own Kid Bucks Program for Kids ages 3 – 17.
Because we do accept SNAP, we also partner with Wholesome Wave in the Double SNAP Program, which doubles a person’s SNAP so they can afford to purchase fresh foods. Approved Farmers accept Senior and WIC Coupons, allowing the elderly and mother’s young children to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
The goal of Kid Bucks is to promote our younger generation to eating healthy by allowing them to purchase and select fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, the program gives area families the ability to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables, the program also works to grow our furture growers/farmers and vendors.
All of these programs increase affordable access to fresh, local food for low-income families.
The Market has relied on minor grant monies, space fees and donations as in-kind from area business. Last year, individuals, businesses and our town supported our Kids Bucks program.
Would you give a gift today toward this need for our community? A gift of any amount would be greatly appreciated. You can give here online or Mail a check, payable to The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market, P.O. Box 483, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market has always worked to introduce people to local growers, connecting them to the source of our food. This connection is important to raising awareness to growing healthy, fresh produce, and inspiring both young and old to try growing food at home. Many home-growers from our serving communities are at the Market every week, where for a small fee they can sell a portion of their home-grown produce and other goods.
We are asking you to consider a donation today, to strengthen our service to our customers and be a more exciting and welcoming Farmers market.
Opening Day will be the first Saturday in May 6th 8am – Noon through September.
Every dollar donated is Tax Deductible.
Any raised over this amount will be used to go toward more and better education activities, events, and to improve our Kids Bucks Education Programs. All of these activities and programs better serve our communities. Our patrons come from Big Stone Gap, Lee and Wise County and the City of Norton and we have patrons driving from Kentucky as well!
Building Our Community
The Market is so much more than a place to buy fresh locally grown produce, and that’s important. The Market gives people the opportunity to make some money doing something they enjoy. The Market brings families, friends, and people together. This makes the Market a truly great social event for our community.
We’re Growing!
In 2015, the BSGFarmers Market doubled its weekly vendors and increased its offerings of fresh fruits, vegetables, food products ranging from homemade baked goods and jams and more crafters came.
The Kids Bucks Program Bucks helped increase EBT use and WIC participants, in that, families saw how it increased their buying power. Kids Bucks drew more kids and their families to the market. We desire to expand fun and educational activities for children and families, hold more food demonstrations, and feature more local music and other entertainment.
Highlights from the 2016 Season:
- We DOUBLED the number of weekly vendors!
- Our customer count grew to 100 to 250 and a high attendance during an event of400!
- We accepted $1,366 in EBT payments for the season, enabling many lower income neighbors and friends to buy fresh produce.
- We distributed $870 in Kids Bucks between July 2nd through August 27th, serving over 40 children and youth.
You Can You Help Us Continue to Grow in 2017 and beyond
How to Give a Gift: The quickest way for us to receive your gift is here online. OR you can Mail a check, payable to The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market, P.O. Box 483, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
Every gift, no matter the size will get us closer to our goal.
All Gifts are Greatly Appreciated and Tax Deductible.
FOR EVERY GIFT OVER $50, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CUSTOM-DESIGNED T-SHIRT brand new for the Farmer's Market this year!
THANK YOU SO MUCH. We can do nothing without Supporting Partners like you.
Chair of the Big Stone Gap Farmers Market https://www.facebook.com/bsgfarmersmarket/
Candace Davidson - Market Manager
Your contribution will help make this and more possible. Could you make a donation toward this need today? Any size gift will help.
How to Give a Gift: The quickest way for us to receive your gift is here online. OR you can Mail a check, payable to The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market, P.O. Box 483, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
The Farmers Market is a public-service, tax-deductible nonprofit organization. Its primary mission is to increase the availability of local, fresh, nourishing, safe produce and related products.
The Problem:
When the BSGFarmers Market opened in 2008, we were small and only had a minimum of administration responsibilities. Now, the market is a nonprofit organization, accepts SNAP/EBT Credi/Debit payments, Senior coupons, Kid Bucks, advertising must be done, facebook and website’s maintained and reports must be written, license fees to be paid and so on.
What funding we do receive other than space fees, goes toward those costs.
Our Market supports local farmers and growers, bakers, craftspeople and emerging farmers by providing a low cost, relaxed atmosphere where new vendors can learn to market their products.
Our market can provide a showcase for local musicians, and other artisans, and hosts family activities as well as gardening classes and food demonstrations.
We do some of this, but not as much as we would like to. The Market is a welcoming gathering hub for the entire community, strengthening connections between neighbors and organizations serving the surrounding area. Our neighborhood is home to a rich culture of people.
Our town and surrounding communities are food deserts, which makes the BSGFarmers Market a much needed resource to families and individuals seeking low cost, locally grown foods.
The Market is located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, which lies in the extreme southwestern corner of Virginia in the central Appalachian Mountains. The BSGFarmers Market serves its’ community, as well as the counties of Wise, Lee, Scott and the City of Norton.
The primary industry is coal mining, whereas the region’s coal industry has declined for many years. This makes this region to be one of the most economically depressed areas in the nation. This contributes to the area as being a food desert.
A food desert is a specific area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. Therefore the BSGFarmers Market participates in the SNAP/EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Virginia’s Senior Nutrition (WIC) Program and we created our own Kid Bucks Program for Kids ages 3 – 17.
Because we do accept SNAP, we also partner with Wholesome Wave in the Double SNAP Program, which doubles a person’s SNAP so they can afford to purchase fresh foods. Approved Farmers accept Senior and WIC Coupons, allowing the elderly and mother’s young children to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
The goal of Kid Bucks is to promote our younger generation to eating healthy by allowing them to purchase and select fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, the program gives area families the ability to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables, the program also works to grow our furture growers/farmers and vendors.
All of these programs increase affordable access to fresh, local food for low-income families.
The Market has relied on minor grant monies, space fees and donations as in-kind from area business. Last year, individuals, businesses and our town supported our Kids Bucks program.
Would you give a gift today toward this need for our community? A gift of any amount would be greatly appreciated. You can give here online or Mail a check, payable to The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market, P.O. Box 483, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market has always worked to introduce people to local growers, connecting them to the source of our food. This connection is important to raising awareness to growing healthy, fresh produce, and inspiring both young and old to try growing food at home. Many home-growers from our serving communities are at the Market every week, where for a small fee they can sell a portion of their home-grown produce and other goods.
We are asking you to consider a donation today, to strengthen our service to our customers and be a more exciting and welcoming Farmers market.
Opening Day will be the first Saturday in May 6th 8am – Noon through September.
Every dollar donated is Tax Deductible.
Any raised over this amount will be used to go toward more and better education activities, events, and to improve our Kids Bucks Education Programs. All of these activities and programs better serve our communities. Our patrons come from Big Stone Gap, Lee and Wise County and the City of Norton and we have patrons driving from Kentucky as well!
Building Our Community
The Market is so much more than a place to buy fresh locally grown produce, and that’s important. The Market gives people the opportunity to make some money doing something they enjoy. The Market brings families, friends, and people together. This makes the Market a truly great social event for our community.
We’re Growing!
In 2015, the BSGFarmers Market doubled its weekly vendors and increased its offerings of fresh fruits, vegetables, food products ranging from homemade baked goods and jams and more crafters came.
The Kids Bucks Program Bucks helped increase EBT use and WIC participants, in that, families saw how it increased their buying power. Kids Bucks drew more kids and their families to the market. We desire to expand fun and educational activities for children and families, hold more food demonstrations, and feature more local music and other entertainment.
Highlights from the 2016 Season:
- We DOUBLED the number of weekly vendors!
- Our customer count grew to 100 to 250 and a high attendance during an event of400!
- We accepted $1,366 in EBT payments for the season, enabling many lower income neighbors and friends to buy fresh produce.
- We distributed $870 in Kids Bucks between July 2nd through August 27th, serving over 40 children and youth.
You Can You Help Us Continue to Grow in 2017 and beyond
How to Give a Gift: The quickest way for us to receive your gift is here online. OR you can Mail a check, payable to The Big Stone Gap Farmers Market, P.O. Box 483, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
Every gift, no matter the size will get us closer to our goal.
All Gifts are Greatly Appreciated and Tax Deductible.
FOR EVERY GIFT OVER $50, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CUSTOM-DESIGNED T-SHIRT brand new for the Farmer's Market this year!
THANK YOU SO MUCH. We can do nothing without Supporting Partners like you.
Chair of the Big Stone Gap Farmers Market https://www.facebook.com/bsgfarmersmarket/
Candace Davidson - Market Manager
Organizer
Candace Davidson
Organizer
Big Stone Gap, VA