City Market Raises Awareness And Money for Fresh Bucks

Locals came together at the City Market’s Original Farmers' Market to raise money and awareness for Fresh Bucks which ran out of funding in June.

The Fresh Bucks program doubles the spending power for Hoosiers receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says the event aimed to help keep the program going.

“The truth is too many of our neighbors in our city are food insecure, and this fundraiser is really designed to step into a void left by federal funding," Hogsett says.

In addition to the lack of funding from the USDA, the software used to accept SNAP payments will not be provided after Aug. 1 which will affect the farmers' market.

City Market executive director Stevi Stoesz says they will find a way to work around accepting SNAP.

“We are working very hard to ensure that the program stays. That we can accommodate and offer Fresh Bucks well into the future," Stoesz says.

The Office of Public Health and Safety is contributing the funds to support the City Market’s Fresh Bucks program through the rest of the market season which runs until October.