Tuesday, January 25, 2011
SPROUTS AT WEEDS IN CEDARBURG
Milwaukee CSA Assistance Fund : Would you like to donate?
Milwaukee CSA Assistance Fund
Logistics:
- Farmers can voluntarily participate in promoting and gathering money for the program each year
- Participating farms would include language and space on their CSA registration form and on their website asking their members to donate to this program. Donated money will be collected by the farmers.
- Farmers will send/deliver money for the fund to Jamie Ferschinger at the Urban Ecology Center
- Participating farms would include language and space on their CSA registration form and on their website asking their members to donate to this program. Donated money will be collected by the farmers.
- All farmers attending the Open House will be sent language to include on their brochures/website to inform low-income people about the funding that is available and how they can inquire
- Inquiries will be directed to Jamie. Funding will be granted on a first-come-first-serve basis to those who meet the criteria listed below
- Recipients will be required to work out details directly with the farmer they choose
- Assistance money will be sent from the UEC directly to the chosen CSA farmer after details are confirmed by each party
Brief description of the program that could go on CSA brochures/website:
YES, I would like to contribute $__________ to the Milwaukee CSA Assistance Fund. The Milwaukee CSA Assistance Program provides financial assistance to help low-income households purchase CSA shares. By contributing to this fund, you will be helping increase access to fresh, sustainably grown food from our local CSA farms to low income families. For more information about the program or how to receive assistance, contact Jamie Ferschinger at the Urban Ecology Center 414-964-8505 or jferschinger@urbanecologycenter.org
To qualify for Assistance, an applicant would need to meet 1 of following criteria:
1. Annual income below $25,000*
2. Uses Medicaid
3. Uses SSI
4. Uses Food Stamps
5. Lives in public housing
* If a student, participant would need to be a full-time student with an income below $25,000 and dependents
Additional Details:
- Primary source of funding would be CSA members who can choose to donate money to this fund by marking a box on their CSA registration form. Farmers would collect from their members and send to the UEC. UEC will also contribute to the fund, solicit additional donations, and administer the program.
- The assistance would be $300 or up to 1/2 of a CSA share
- The recipient could join any CSA farm
- The Assistance Fund would pay the CSA farmer and the participant would make arrangements with the farmer to pay the remainder of the share
- The Fund would be publicized before the Open House so people can apply and get approved before the event (that way they can meet and make arrangements with a CSA at the Open House).
Jamie Ferschinger
Community Program Coordinator
Urban Ecology Center
1500 East Park Place
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414.964.8505 ext. 114