Revere Public School’s Didiana Medina, Parent Information Center (PIC) Social Services Outreach Liaison, and Michael Zayas, Eastie Farm’s Food Distribution Coordinator both presented at this week's Family Coffee Hour at the Beachmont School.
The two presentations focused on food access for Revere Public School caregivers with an emphasis on the federal SNAP program and Eastie Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture, which will be available at Revere City Hall on Wednesdays.
The PIC Presentation
Medina informed caregivers that the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) assists and empowers low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life and achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency. DTA serves one in six residents of the Commonwealth with direct economic assistance (cash benefits) and food assistance (SNAP benefits), as well as workforce training opportunities.
She let families know that “people enrolled in SNAP are also automatically enrolled in HIP, which stands for the Healthy Incentives Program.” The goal of HIP is to help SNAP recipients purchase more fresh, local produce each month.
Medina explained that if you do not have documented immigration status, you will not be able to apply for yourself, but you may be able to apply for other eligible household members.
“Children born in the U.S. and those with legal permanent resident status may receive benefits even if their parents do not have documentation,” she said.
Non-immigrants (those on student, visitor or diplomatic visas) are not eligible to receive SNAP benefits but may apply for other eligible household members.
“Even if you do not meet the immigration status for SNAP, put your name on the application first if you are the head of the household and are applying for other eligible household members,” she said.
See Medina’s full presentation here.
Eastie Farm’s Presentation
Zayas talked about how the non-profit’s popular Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is expanding to Revere.
Eastie Farm, which has been dedicated to pursuing climate justice, improving food access, and fostering community resilience through the development of interactive urban agricultural spaces since 2014, started up a CSA program a few years ago.
CSAs are an alternative, locally based economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA also refers to a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production.
Zayas said CSA members or subscribers pay at the onset of the growing season for a share of the anticipated harvest. Once harvesting begins, they receive weekly shares of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme.
CSAs generally focus on the production of high-quality foods for a local community, often using organic or biodynamic farming methods, and a shared risk membership–marketing structure. This kind of farming operates with a much greater degree of involvement of consumers and other stakeholders than usual — resulting in a stronger consumer-producer relationship.
Zayas said the program will begin in May and run through November. Once Revere residents sign up for Eastie Farm’s CSA program they will now be able to pick up their produce at Revere City Call on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
According to studies, CSAs benefit the community in which they are established. A large majority of CSAs organize social or educational community events. Events include potlucks, farm tours, events for children of shareholders, and educational opportunities for the community and local schools. CSAs often donate unclaimed shares, organize donations from shareholders, donate a portion of their harvest to food banks, and have scholarships. Many CSAs also offer work-trade programs for low-income members of the community.
Learn more about Eastie Farm’s CSA program here.
The PIC's presentation can be viewed by clicking on the attached PDF!