The Market will operate from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Sept. 30 inside the Expo Building. Sponsored by the Lincoln Memorial Foundation, the indoor event is a “producer-only” farmers market, which means items are homegrown, handmade or vendor-created from locally owned operations.
Vendors at The Market offer fruits, vegetables, eggs, poultry, baked goods, honey and more. Shoppers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides assistance to supplement the grocery budgets of families in need, may use a Link card to purchase food at the farmers market. The market offers SNAP matching for Link card holders, and the match is tripled every third Saturday.
Other offerings at The Market include free health screenings on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The Power of Produce (POP) Club provides activities for children from 5 to 12 years old to engage them in the local food system with educational games and demonstrations, conversations with farmers and exposure to fruits and vegetables.
Attendees will also find a “Local Roots” booth that provides an opportunity for vendors who are not producer-only, but who have a local connection and a quality product to share with customers.
The Market is recruiting volunteers for this upcoming season. Volunteers help greet people, answer questions, assist with the Power of Produce (POP) Club and other exhibits, help with data collection, assist vendors and help with setup and close.
“Our volunteers create a warm and welcoming environment for our visitors, which keeps folks coming back each Saturday,” said Jamie Jones, coordinator for The Market. “They are a big part of the market’s success.”
Volunteers are asked to sign up for two shifts during a month. Shifts run from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Volunteers receive a free T-shirt to wear during their shifts and a free meal during each shift they work. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer, call 217-605-5008 or fill out an online application here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1590645964.
The Market is presented by Lincoln Memorial Hospital and promotes health and wellness through fresh food and health-focused programs. For more information about The Market, visit memorial.health/the-lmh-market or like The LMH Market on Facebook.