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Credit unions have a unique opportunity to support the Auburn Public Schools this fall as they bring a pop-up farmers’ market to Park Avenue Elementary School for the school’s 2026 Open House. This family-focused event will highlight local foods, share information about food assistance resources, and connect kids and families to the local farm-to-school work occurring in the area.
The pop-up farmers’ market is supported by Healthy Androscoggin in collaboration with the School-Based Food Hub. Fresh, local, and culturally diverse produce will be displayed and available for individuals/families to purchase with tokens, cash, EBT, and WIC benefits. Produce will be purchased with grant funds from Liberation Farms and Blackie’s Farms.
Additionally, attendees have the chance to learn about the Maine Harvest Bucks program. Students who partake will also be able to vote on which vegetable they would like to have on their school menu, and the winning vegetable will be purchased and featured in the cafeteria. On top of that, Maine Federation of Farmers’ markets hope to expand their reach to the Central Maine region by offering resources and support to this event.
According to Healthy Androscoggin and the School-Based Food Hub, “The primary goal of this event is to engage the community and provide a platform where families can learn about how to use WIC and EBT benefits, particularly at local food sites, as well as experience firsthand the work being done by Healthy Androscoggin and the School-Based Food Hub to bring local farms into the school food system. This event will increase access to fresh, local produce, making it easier for families to purchase healthy food and introducing them to the farm-to-school movement.”
The Auburn Public Schools are United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grantees; however, they need additional financial support to create a well-rounded and exciting program for attending families by providing coupons, raffle items, and more—things they cannot spend their USDA grant funds on. If successful, this event has the potential to become a long-term program that connects the school’s community to the local food system.
If your credit union would like to support this initiative or learn more, please contact Lilly Gardiner, School-Based Food Hub Project Coordinator, at lgardiner@auburnschl.edu.