The
Forsyth Farmers’ Market, which is expected to start off 2024 with a
record-breaking number of local vendors on Saturday, Jan. 6, recently received
grant funding to support their efforts in expanding access to fresh, affordable
food in Savannah.
“Amidst the excitement of
commemorating our 15th-year anniversary at Forsyth Farmers'
Market, our team is delighted to share a remarkable milestone: a
record-breaking start to the year with now nearly 80
vendors on record,” said Deidre Grim, who was appointed Forsyth
Farmers’ Market’s executive director in 2022.
In
early December, Forsyth Farmers’ Market received a $50,000 grant from Kaiser
Permanente Community Health Fund, a program whose mission is to help improve
overall health in Georgia communities. The grant will be used to support the Farmers’
Market’s outreach programs including 912 Food Farmacy and Farm Truck 912. Both
programs aim to assist in the expansion of access to healthy food choices
throughout the Savannah area.
Grim
learned about the opportunity to apply to the Kaiser Permanente Community
Health Fund through an email message she initially thought was spam.
“I
was ecstatic to find out that this was a real opportunity… that they wanted to
prioritize prevention and looking at what more can be done from a healthcare
perspective with health disparities in trying to ensure that they are proactive
and not reactive,” said Grim.
The
turnaround time to submit her proposal for grant funding was quite short. “Within
two to three days to be exact,” said Grim. After submitting the application in
November, Grim received notice she had been awarded the grant on Dec. 1, 2023.
“Sure
enough on the same day as our annual luncheon, we learned that we were awarded
the funding. We’re excited that Kaiser is a partner in this work. I went to
school in Southern California, they do great work out there. They do great work
in Atlanta… to see that they saw fit that they need to extend to Savannah spoke
fondly to me.”
The 912 Food Farmacy and Farm Truck 912 each received $25,000 in grant funding. The 912 Food Farmacy program offers a free monthly nutrition class along with free produce vouchers or “prescriptions” that can be used at the Forsyth Farmers’ Market or at Farm Truck 912.
Partnering
healthcare providers and clinics include Memorial Health Children’s Hospital,
Chatham County Health Department, St. Mary’s Health Center, African-American
Health Information and Resource Center, and Good Samaritan Clinic, shared Grim.
“Once
individuals receive these food prescriptions from these partnering healthcare
clinics, 912 Food Pharmacy's team reaches out to them directly. They provide
clients with a gift card that is reloaded monthly, enabling them to purchase
produce. This seamless process ensures that individuals can access and afford
nutritious foods, promoting better health outcomes within the community,” Grim
said.
In addition to 912 Food Farmacy, Farm Truck 912 works to ensure that individuals in low-income communities have access to high-quality, healthy foods. It stops at various locations in Savannah with a schedule that is posted on social media. Their stops include community centers, hospice, the Salvation Army, and apartments throughout the city.
“We
want people to understand that we want to be part of their health journey… from
birth to 105. So however long you're here, we're going be here for you,” Grim
said, who wants to expand access to nutrient-dense, fresh produce.
“If
you look in west Savannah, the closest option for getting something to eat are
dollar stores… There have been studies that show dollar stores in general pop
up in low wealth communities with ultra processed foods. If you also notice
what else are in those communities are fast food restaurants,” Grim said.
Grim
learned the importance of agriculture and community service through generational
knowledge passed down from her family.
“I
grew up in a more affluent household with my grandmother. She was a dean of business,
but she was vey clear that her paycheck at the university didn’t sustain our
household. It was the ability to farm the land, because it not just helped our
household, it helped our neighbors’ households, and it helped our local
community’s household.”
The
lessons Grim learned in her youth continue in her work today. This season’s Forsyth
Farmers’ Market will bring a variety of farmers and vendors together. Their goods will include fresh produce, local honey, craft breads, artisan dairy and
cheeses and much more.
“In essence, the multitude
of vendors, with farmers as key contributors, serves as a powerful means to
promote food justice. It ensures equitable access to nutritious foods and
empowers individuals with the resources and agency to make informed choices, thereby creating a more equitable,
healthier, and inclusive community,” Grim said.
The
Forsyth Farmers’ Market will take place at Forsyth Park every Saturday starting
on Jan. 5, from 9am to 1pm. For more information, visit: https://www.forsythfarmersmarket.com.
On Sunday, Jan, 7, the Forsyth Farmer’s Market will host a Gullah-Geechee Farmsgiving Brunch featuring guest chef and Food Network Star Gina Capers Willis at 11:30am. The event will take place at O’Hara Hall-Catholic Diocese of Savanah (2170 E. Victory Drive). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.forsythfarmersmarket.com/gullah-geechee-farmsgiving
