Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure and the Northampton County Area Agency on Aging recently announced the continuation of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Beginning in June, vouchers worth $50 will be available to Northampton County residents who meet the eligibility criteria.
Northampton County residents age 60 or over who meet income eligibility guidelines (for example, $27,861/yr. for a single person or $37,814/yr. for a couple) are eligible to receive the vouchers, which will be distributed by the county AAA. In the case of married couples, both spouses may obtain coupons.
Anyone applying for coupons must present proof of age and residency. Coupons may be obtained for another person only if they have completed and signed a proxy form. According to a May 9 news release about the program, a person may only serve as a proxy for up to four other people, and identification with date of birth and the address of the older adult must be shown when presenting as a proxy. Proxy forms are available for pick up at the AAA office, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, at all Northampton County senior centers and on the AAA website.
The release noted that the SFMNP is not available to seniors who live in nursing homes, convents or other residential facilities where meals are provided.
Residents may only receive coupons once during the program, which runs from June 1 to Sept. 13, 2024 or until the supply of vouchers is exhausted.
Coupons will be available at the Northampton County Dept. of Human Services Building, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, starting Monday, June 3, 2024, and will be redeemable until Nov. 30, 2024.
According to the news release, there will be a local voucher distribution at the Saucon Valley Community Center, 323 Northampton St., Hellertown, on Tuesday, June 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as other scheduled distributions next month at community centers throughout the county.
A list of farmers markets which participate in the SFMNP program can be found at PAFMNP.org.
This local news story was reported with generative AI assistance.
The Saucon Valley Farmers Market, pictured above, is held Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. next to the Hellertown Area Library, 409 Constitution Ave., Hellertown. This year’s market opened May 5 and runs through Nov. 24. For more information, visit SVFMPA.com.
