Buy One For A Neighbor Helps Families and Farmers Thrive

Buy One For A Neighbor to help local market farmers and families in need

Buy One For A Neighbor (BOFAN), a project of Healthy Food For All, is a fresh, novel way to help local farmers thrive and provide fresh produce to needy neighbors. We set up tables at area markets and ask shoppers to buy an extra bag or bunch something and donate it on the spot. This season, we are operating weekly at the Northside, Eastside, Monroe Street and Capitol View Farmers’ Markets.

As soon as the market ends, we immediately distribute the produce directly to low-income families while it’s still just picked fresh. Shoppers like buying extra produce from the farmers and feel good sharing it with others.

Farmers love it because it’s a new stream of revenue. And, of course, the neighbors who get the fresh vegetables that shoppers donate surely do appreciate it since more and more people are living with food insecurity.

While some shoppers buy and donate produce, others give cash donations and ask us to do the shopping. We encourage everyone to come to a market, get to know the vendors and shop for things they love to share with other neighbors.

You don’t have to come to one of the markets we serve to help

If you aren’t able to shop and donate your favorites, make a donation online to BOFAN now. We want to feed neighbors in need while also increasing small farmers sales and strengthening the local food system.

We will do the shopping and make sure the produce gets to families who need it. We know there are a lot of kind and generous neighbors who want to help both the families and the farmers but may not have time to come down in person.

We can even buy stuff from a specific market or farmer if you indicate who you want to help out. Just include the farm’s name in the comments when you donate and we’ll spend whatever you send us on them.

In the spirit of full transparency, we’ll be detailing how money donated is spent by recording it in a publicly accessible google sheet. We want to ensure that all the market farmers we serve benefit from this fundraising so we’ll be trying to keep track of who/what/when/where.

Strong local farms mean real food security

BOFAN grew out of Healthy Food For All’s extensive gleaning and food waste reduction work which also serves area households. While our roots are in sharing surplus food, BOFAN also actively works to help farmers expand production and rebuild local food system infrastructure.

We know thriving local farms are the cornerstone of real long-term food security. Your donation makes a direct, immediate impact on the lives of needy neighbors while also helping strengthen the local food economy. Please consider giving what you can knowing your contribution helps address multiple community concerns simultaneously.

Please check back anytime for updates because we’ll definitely have cool stories to tell. Plus, we’ll likely be adding other locations as things get rolling! Don’t forget to check out the google sheet detailing how much we’ve been able to buy and from whom.

Please come hang out with us in the BOFAN booth at the following markets:

Northside Farmers’ Market - Sundays 8:30-12:30

Northside TownCenter - 1865 Northport Drive

Monroe Street Farmers’ Market - Sundays 9:00-1:00

Edgewood High School - 2219 Monroe Street

Eastside Farmers’ Market - Tuesdays 4:00-7:00

McPike Park - 202 S. Ingersoll Street

Capital View Farmers’ Market - Wednesdays 3:00-7:00

5901 Sharpsburg Drive

If you can’t get down to one of them, make a donation now and we’ll do the shopping for you. Either way, thanks for your interest and support!