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Freeman grant bolsters farmers market food pantry purchases

HLFM program buys quality products direct from local growers
Grant presentation attendees shown are (l-r) Patti Grimes, Carl M. Freeman Foundation executive director; Alysia D’Ambrogi, FACES advisory board; Eleanor Shue, HLFM executive director; Michelle Freeman, foundation president and chair; and Lindsay Richard, foundation community engagement director. SUBMITTED PHOTO
June 5, 2025
The HLFM continues its food pantry purchase program. Market customers who want to help feed the local community may purchase local produce, meats, milk and other food from growers at the market to donate to this program every Saturday. At the end of the market, the produce and other foods are gathered and given to local food pantries.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market received a $10,000 award from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation’s Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support grant program.

The FACES program funds small organizations that provide grassroots services to the community.

The funds will be used to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and eggs for the HLFM Food Pantry Purchase Program. Through this program, the market pays farmers in advance for fresh items designated directly for the food pantry collection every Saturday. This supports local small farmers by paying for their quality products and giving families in need access to fresh food. Since 2021, the HLFM program has provided Epworth United Methodist Church’s food ministry with more than $65,875 worth of fresh food through direct farmer purchases, customer donations and farmer donations.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market is producer-only, so customers are able to buy directly from the farmers who grow the produce. The HLFM also provides scholarships to small farmers and matches $20 in SNAP benefits each week per customer per market.

 

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