Coupons worth a total of $20.00 are now available to Northampton County residents 60 and over who meet income eligibility criteria thanks to the continuation of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The coupons are being distributed by the Northampton County Area Agency on Aging.
John Mehler, Area Agency Administrator, said single Northampton County residents age 60 or over with incomes less than $22,311.00 per year are eligible as are married couples with incomes of $30,044.00 per year or less. For married couples, both spouses may obtain coupons.
Proof of age and residence must be presented by anyone receiving coupons.
Income eligibility is based on self-declaration.
Mehler said program policies allow a person to obtain coupons for another person only if they have a completed and signed proxy form. Additionally, a person may only serve as proxy for up to four other participants, and identification with the date of birth and address of the older adult must be shown when presenting proxy. This form is available for pick-up at the AAA office, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, and all senior centers, and on the AAA webpage on www.northamptoncounty.org.
Individuals may only receive coupons once during the program, which runs from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2017.
Mehler said the coupons must be used at state-registered farmers markets.
Locally they can be redeemed at Bechdolt Orchards, 2209 Leithsville Road, Hellertown, and the Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, which is open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Water Street Park, Hellertown.
A complete listing of these markets is available from the Area Agency on Aging. The coupons cannot be used in supermarkets or grocery stores.
In the Saucon Valley area, vouchers will be distributed at Saucon Valley Community Center, 323 Northampton St., Hellertown, on Monday June 12 from 9 to 11 a.m., and the Rooney Senior Center, 4 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem, on Thursday, June 8 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Coupons are also available at the Northampton County Area Agency on Aging office, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 1 to 4:30 p.m., weekly, until Sept. 30 or until the supply of vouchers is exhausted.
