Contact:
Sarah Burton,
Horticulturist / Vine Street Market Coord. / Downtown District Coord., City of O’Fallon,
[email protected] or (618) 206-4379 or
Libby Ervin, Assistant Director, Food Works, [email protected] or (618) 370-3287 ext 103
Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station now accepts SNAP and Link Match Double
Coupons
(O’Fallon, IL) – Food Works is very pleased to announce that Vine Street Market at O’Fallon
Station is now accepting SNAP and Link Match and is part of the Southern Illinois Link Hub, which
provides support to farmers markets in Southern Illinois for the Link Match Double Coupon
Program. Funding comes from Experimental Station, Link Up Illinois and the Illinois Department
of Human Services. The market is in its fifth year and is one of the largest markets around. The
market is located at 212 E 1st Street, O’Fallon and runs on Saturdays 8am-12pm March-October.
The Link Hub and Link Match program help low-income families throughout Southern Illinois
access equitable, healthy and nutritious foods year-round at Illinois farmers markets and as the
program circulates dollars into the local economy though local farm businesses, it also provides
stability to local farm businesses and farmers markets.
The SNAP & Link Match double coupon program allows customers to use their LINK card to
purchase food at the farmers market and provides matching coupons for fresh fruits and
vegetables. For every $1 a customer spends with their LINK card, they also receive a $1 Link
Match coupon that can be used at any Illinois farmers market that participates in the program.
Customers can get up to $25 worth of free fruits and vegetables per swipe, with unlimited swipes!
“This program is great for communities because it helps food insecure folks among us to access
healthful, nourishing foods and it also supports the local economy. SNAP recipients double their
purchasing power at the farmers market, and when they spend those food dollars with local
farmers, bakers and other small food businesses, they are supporting other local families too,”
said Jennifer Paulson, executive director of Food Works. “Over the past few years and throughout
the pandemic, we have seen the need for SNAP and Link Match increase significantly”, said Libby
Ervin, Assistant Director and the person that will be supporting the markets with the grant.
This year Food Works will be partnering with the Illinois Farmers Market Association and Illinois
Farm Bureau to once again support the program at these participating markets: F.R.E.S.H. Market
in East St. Louis, LEAF Food Hub, Benton Farmers Market, Humpday Farmers Market, Marion
Farmers Market, Elverado Farmers Market, Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Farmers Market,
Community Farmers Market in Carbondale.
Each market has its own way of using LINK Up Illinois Link Match Coupons, so look for the
information booth at the market to learn more. Some markets use tokens, while others use paper
coupons. Coupons are only available while funds last and have an expiration date of 12/
31/23.