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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Considering becoming a vendor at the CityCenter Danbury Farmers’ Market for 2020?

We will now be at the Danbury Railway Museum, a very quaint, visible spot with lots of cars passing by during our market time.

Will be a very exciting market season.

Please give us a call at 203-792-1711 or or email amy@citycenterdanbury.com or info@danburyfarmersmarket.org for details.

Mealtime Struggles Banished

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We grew up in an era of TV dinners, Saturday morning cartoons, and drinking water from the garden hose. As our parents prioritized convenience over health, so too do we in our children’s world, which is an ever-on-the-go lifestyle. Combined with an innate preference for sweetness, today’s lifestyles can make it difficult to convince children (and adults, if we’re honest) to ditch the chicken nuggets for a variety of healthy food options.

So, how’s a parent supposed to win dinner-time battles when time and money are a premium?

 Swap grease for the grill

There is no denying that grilled foods are healthier than those deep-fried and battered. Grilling, especially if you have a propane unit, may actually even be faster than frying and comes with the added benefit of exceptional flavor. When you grill foods, their natural flavors are more prominent and they will wind up juicier and more visually appealing. Be cautious when you fire up the backyard barbecue, however, as an unmaintained grill can cause injuries. Angie’s List offers grilling safety tips for both gas and charcoal grills.

 Make each night unique

 While leftovers are certainly a staple for lunch, avoid the temptation to overcook on Monday and eat the same thing throughout the week. Variety is the spice of life, and that’s not just hyperbole. Give your family a taste tour with themed dinner nights. And we’re not just talking about taco Tuesday. You might, for instance, plan a slow cooker Sunday, Mediterranean Monday, or sushi Saturday. Slender Kitchen offers more ideasand links to numerous healthy recipes, including baked blackened tilapia and roasted poblano cheeseburgers.

Visit the Farmers’ Market

 Your farmers market has so much more than vegetables. These often open-air marketplaces will allow your children the opportunity to meet and greet the people that grow their food. They will be awarded an opportunity to taste new things, especially at the beginning of each season when farmers are more than happy to slice open a watermelon or dice up a few peaches to tempt tiny taste buds. Plus, it is a fun afternoon outing that will give you and your family a chance to unplug.

 Go for diversity

 It is not enough to swap up your style of cooking, if you want to truly enjoy health benefits, you need to include a diverse range of foods. In other words, beef tacos followed by Mongolian steak and noodles won’t cut it. Dr. Deanna Minich, author of The Rainbow Diet, explains that eating foods from a number of categories will enhance the diversity of your gut microbes, lower your risk of developing a food allergy or intolerance, and help reduce systemic inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

 Don’t skip the grains

 Grains get a bad reputation. Foods such as white bread and flour-based cakes aren’t the best option for a healthy diet, but the Mayo Clinic asserts that a diet rich with whole grains is actually good for you. Sources of whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and pasta for you spaghetti lovers. Even more good news: popcorn is considered a grain. Just make sure you use an air popper and don’t smother it in salt and butter.

 Let the kids lend a hand

 Finally, if you want your entire family to eat well, you have to give even the smallest members of your pack a voice when it comes to what they eat. This does not mean you have to let your four-year-old dictate dinner, but listen to their concerns about the menu. Kids should also be encouraged to help out in the kitchen. One great way to keep them interested is to let them pair some of their favorite fruits and vegetables with things they may not like. For instance, raisins go quite well with hot oatmeal, and there are few things more delicious and refreshing than a strawberry and spinach salad.