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TO: Mayor Robert J. O’Connor
FROM: John Russell, Grant Writer
DATE: 12/12/2016
SUBJECT:
Requesting approval of a Grant Agreement with the Wholesome Wave Foundation, to accept a $25,000 grant to Aurora's Farmers Market.
PURPOSE:
Wholesome Wave, a national foundation promoting improved nutrition for low-income residents across America, has selected the Aurora's Farmers Market for a $25,000 grant to provide $10 vouchers each week during the Market season to about 75 client families of the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, to be redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market. VNA Health Care is partnering in this grant by recruiting the Food Pantry client families to take part in free, bilingual, drop-in nutrition classes at the VNA clinic. Grant funds also will be used for a gleaning program at the Market, where farm vendors will provide their leftover produce each Saturday for pick-up by the Food Pantry. We hope to glean at least 200 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables each week to be distributed to Food Pantry clients.
BACKGROUND:
Wholesome Wave's Nutrition Incentive Program Support and Innovation Grants support "innovative solutions that increase access and affordability of healthy food for all Americans." The total amount of grant funding available nationwide was $200,000, with a maximum award of $25,000. Aurora's Farmers Market received the maximum award for its proposal to improve the health of some of Aurora's neediest families, in cooperation with the Interfaith Food Pantry and VNA Health Care..
DISCUSSION:
This collaboration with the Interfaith Food Pantry is an extension of the previous Farmer's Market Fresh First Prescription program, which provides Market vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables to clients of the VNA Clinic's Childhood Obesity, Pre-and Post-Natal Mothers, and Healthy Families programs. More than 100 families in these VNA programs receive the weekly vouchers, which encourage them to add fresh produce to their family diets. The agreement with Wholesome Wave will provide funding to add an additional 75 needy families to this nutrition-incentive effort. Account numbers for this grant program are: Revenue Account # 101-1341-337.30-40 ; and Expense Account # 101-1341-450.53-09.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Aurora's Farmers Market believes this collaboration with the Interfaith Food Pantry is a way to improve the health of some of the poorest families in our community. The Food Pantry serves about 1,000 families a week. The Pantry finds it a challenge to provide these families with fresh, nutritious produce -- most of the food it distributes to clients is prepared and pre-packaged, without much nutritional value. We believe the $10 Fresh First vouchers will bring these families to the Farmers Market -- where many of them also will be able to receive weekly SNAP (food stamp) Double-Value coupons. This Double-Value program of the Farmers Market will allow the families to receive an extra $25 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables for every $25 SNAP purchase they make. The Wholesome Wave grant also includes funding for two college Nutrition Program students to instruct these Food Pantry clients on the importance of healthy eating and ways to prepare nutritious meals for their families.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request approval of the grant agreement with the Wholesome Wave Foundation for a $25,000 Nutrition Incentive Program Support and Innovation Grant.
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mervine
Alderman Bohman
Alderman Mesiacos, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution to approve an agreement with the Wholesome Wave Foundation for a $25,000 grant for Aurora's Farmers Market.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the national Wholesome Wave Foundation has determined that the Aurora's Farmers Market collaboration with the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry is one of the most innovative programs in the nation to feed low-income families; and
WHEREAS, this grant will provide $10 vouchers each week to about 75 families who are clients of the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, to be redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the Market season; and also create a gleaning program to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to many more families who rely on the Food Pantry each week; and also encourage these families to make healthy, nutritious meals a part of their regular diets; and
WHEREAS, this program will help to improve the eating habits of some of Aurora's neediest residents. Account numbers for this grant program are: Revenue Account # 101-1341-337.30-40 ; and Expense Account # 101-1341-450.53-09.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: The City of Aurora approves a grant agreement with the Wholesome Wave Foundation for a $25,000 grant for Aurora's Farmers Market and authorizes the Mayor execute such grant agreement.