Amy Platt | Danbury Farmers' Market

For the 11th Year Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Grant to CityCenter Danbury Farmers’ Market Supports Fresh Food for All

DANBURY, Conn. — A $38,000 grant from the Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF) will enable the CityCenter Danbury Farmers’ Market to make fresh produce accessible to people who might otherwise not have access to healthy food options. The grant also supports new COVID-19 protocols to help keep shoppers safe.

The Danbury Farmers’ Market runs every Friday 10 am to 2 pm, from June 19^th through Oct. 30th at the Danbury Railway Museum.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation awarded the grant from a component Donor Advised Fund to support the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative’s (DFMCC) Better Food for Better Health program. The donor-advised grant provides seniors, veterans, women, children and SNAP (formerly food stamps) recipients with market cash incentives for produce, and local farmers benefit by selling more produce.

Peggy Zamore, nutritionist and coordinator of the market programs, which is managed by CityCenter Danbury, said, “Over the past eleven years, the Community Foundation has awarded the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative almost $300,000 for our work from this donor-advised fund. The donor advisor, who wishes to remain anonymous, learned about the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative many years ago from their philanthropic advisor at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. This significant level of funding is hugely appreciated by the Collaborative and the Danbury community. Without Fairfield County’s Community Foundation continued significant support, our health promoting incentive programs would simply not be possible.”

“Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is proud to support CityCenter Danbury’s Farmers’ Market once again. This support specifically comes from a FCCF donor-advised fund holder, who cares deeply about fresh food access and Connecticut’s working farmers. We are thrilled to help keep this gem of an initiative going strong in downtown Danbury – now more than ever,” remarked Karen R. Brown, the Community Foundation’s Vice President of Development & Philanthropic Services.

Among the services supported by the Community Foundation’s grant are:

Creating a safe space following the COVID 19 protocols
Accepting and matching Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Matching state Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers, up to $9 per week, for low-income seniors and recipients of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Providing Market Fruit & Veggie incentive coins for seniors and veterans.
Offering Virtual Nutrition, Health & Fitness information and classes.

This generous donor-advised grant is one example of more than 169 grants totaling over $3.7 million that have been awarded since mid-March 2020 through donor advised funds at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. A year-over-year comparison shows that during that same period last year the Community Foundation has seen an increase of more than 385% in grants to nonprofit organizations made through the hundreds of donor-advised funds it manages.

About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Based in Norwalk Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with The Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $230 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizers, business experts and philanthropists to solve our region’s challenges. The Community Foundation’s goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. www.fccfoundation.org

About CityCenter Danbury

CityCenter Danbury’s mission is to foster economic vitality, community engagement and cultural vibrancy in downtown Danbury, CT. For more information, please visit http://www.citycenterdanbury.com/.

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The Danbury Farmers’ Market is on the move this summer, with a new day and location.

Fridays, from 10am – 2pm
June 19 through October 30
Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White Street in downtown Danbury

To keep farmers and shoppers safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Danbury Farmers’ Market in coordination with the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services has adopted new protocols with guidance from CT Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control. Vendors and shoppers will be required to wear face masks, wash their hands at designated hand washing stations, and practice physical distancing.

“Farmers markets have been deemed essential providing food access to our community, and we will continue to do so as safely as possible during the public health emergency,” said Betsy Paynter, Executive Director CityCenter Danbury. “Our farmers market has always been a vibrant community space where many shoppers gather to socialize, listen to music, and take part in nutrition demonstrations in addition to purchasing groceries. However, for the time being, our primary purpose is to provide a safe space for residents to make quick trips to get fresh groceries. All nutrition demonstrations and music are postponed indefinitely.”

Future construction around the CityCenter Green prompted the exploration of a new market location. “We’re optimistic about the Danbury Farmers’ Market new day and location, only a short walk from Main Street and WCSU’s midtown campus. A Friday market will allow both employees and residents in the community to shop for fresh produce in downtown. Thank you to the Danbury Railway Museum for their partnership,” said Paynter.

Complimentary Parking will be available in the Vazquez SoccerChamp Sports parking lot and the Danbury Train Station parking lot. Limited handicap parking will be available at the Danbury Railway Museum, along with parking for farmers and vendors. HARTransit bus stops are conveniently located nearby at Leahy’s Fuel and the Danbury Metro-North Train Station.

The Danbury Farmers’ Market, now in its tenth year, is coordinated by the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative, a 30-member group representing a wide variety of community agencies, in partnership with CityCenter Danbury. It will continue to be a great place to purchase local produce in downtown Danbury.

The Market accepts EBT/SNAP and Debit/Credit cards! SNAP benefits will be matched for any dollar amount for SNAP recipients using their EBT cards. Special incentives are available for Veterans, seniors, and WIC recipients.

There’s no better way to strengthen our local community than to shop and eat locally! By shopping the Danbury Farmers’ Market, you support our local famers, businesses and community members.