KINGSTON, Luzerne County (WBRE/WYOU) — NEPA’s beneficial food assistance program for seniors will soon be back in action.
“I buy vegetables. I like tomatoes, I like white corn,” said Betty Lee Frusciante of Swerville.
These are just some of the fresh foods people can get through the agency’s area of Luzerne/Wyoming County Senior Farmers Market Voucher Program.
“The Farmers Market Voucher Program is a program that supports seniors, and the vouchers they receive also support Pennsylvania farmers,” said Melody Bartusek, director of the Kingston Active Adult Center.
Local seniors say the vouchers have been a great help.
“Yeah, when you get to my age it always helps,” Frusciante added.
The program is not new, but in recent years, the number of vouchers received by seniors has increased
And the eligibility requirements have become stricter.
“It’s wonderful, it really is. Everybody here is basically eligible,” said Marilyn Kester of Swersville.
Seniors who qualify will receive five $10 coupons to use at participating farmers markets, and Kester said the program will help seniors get the produce they need.
“A lot of seniors are past the age of digging in the dirt and working in the garden and are used to eating fresh vegetables, so we’re filling that gap,” Kester explained.
See below for details on eligibility requirements and where you can receive your voucher.
- Kingston Active Adult Center 335 Third Ave Kingston, PA 18704 June 4th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Hazleton Active Adult Center 24 E. Broad Street Hazleton, PA 18201 June 6th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Pittston Active Adult Center 441 N. Main Street Pittston, PA 18640 June 10th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Rose Tucker Active Adult Center 145 R. Green St. Nanticoke, PA 18634 June 12th, 9am-2pm
- Charles T. Adams Active Adult Center 5 E. Market St. Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 June 14th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Butler Township Active Adult Center 411 W. Butler Drive Drums, PA 18222 June 18th, 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Wyoming County Active Adult Center 101 Dymond Terrace, Tunkhannock, PA 18657 June 20th, 10am-2pm
- Dallas Active Adult Center 1158 Twin Stacks Dr. Dallas, PA 18612 June 21, 10:00am-2:00pm
- Mountain Top Active Adult Center Wright Manor 460 S. Main Rd, Mt Top, PA 18707 June 28th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Shickshinny Active Adult Center 19 W. Vine Street Shickshinny, PA 18655 July 2nd, 10:00am – 12:00pm
You can collect the voucher in person. There is no need to apply at the distribution point, but you will need to show proof of age and residence.
