Over three hundred Fall River low-income seniors took advantage of the Farmers' Market Coupon distribution held at Fall River Government Center on July 28, 2015. Each senior received $25 in coupons redeemable for fresh produce from participating, certified farmers at Kennedy Park, Ruggles Park, Charlton Hospital, Saint Anne's Hospital and the Downtown Farmers' Market, as well as other markets around the state. The Coupon Program for Elders is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The coupons were made available to elders at least 60 years of age, who have limited income, through Bristol Elder Services, Inc. The goals of the program are to encourage recipients to eat more locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, to promote more overall consumption of fresh produce, and to promote Massachusetts agriculture. Additional coupons were still available in the 4th Floor Council on Aging office at Government Center on a first-come basis for low-income seniors who are City residents following the July 28th distribution. Click here for photos of the 2014 coupon distribution. For more information, contact Laurel Jonas at the Council on Aging at 508-324-2401.

(Top row) Laural Jonas, from Fall River's Council on Aging, receives attendees and provides seniors with $25 in coupons redeemable at the Farmers' Markets. (Row two) Donald Jackson, Coordinator for the North End Senior Center, greets attendees and distributes tickets for guests to join the line. (Row three) Pat Oliveira holds up a blue ticket to get into line as Janice Joseph describes the line as "quick moving" and shows off her new coupons, and Emilda Benoit holds her $25 worth of  coupons that she was excited to get. (Bottom row) Community health workers Linda Mae and Leonard Pittsley use their Farmers' Market Coupons to purchase some tomatoes from Walter Siemlaski of Westport..