Walpole, NH (August 24, 2023) – Since 2018, the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) has joined community partners to show appreciation for our local veterans.

Cheshire County Veterans are once again invited to participating farmers’ markets to receive a $20 voucher to purchase food each week in September.

Participating local markets include:

• Hinsdale Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 9am-1pm, Main St., Hinsdale, NH
• Keene Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 9am-1pm, Gilbo Ave. Keene, NH
• TEAM Jaffrey Farmers’ Market, Fridays 3pm-6pm, Main St, Jaffrey, NH
• Winchester Farmer’s Market, Saturdays 9am-1pm, Main St, Winchester, NH

The Cheshire County Conservation District partners with farmers' markets and the Cheshire Medical Center's Center for Population Health to increase community members access to healthy foods, an effort which advances the priority areas of the Healthy Monadnock Alliance.

This Veteran Appreciation Month program is not based on need, but rather serves as a way for our community to say "thank you" to our local service members for their commitment and sacrifice. The program also supports local farm viability and strengthens our food system by providing additional business to our local markets–a win/win for farmers and our community!

Vouchers are distributed each week at the Veteran Appreciation Month booth at each market on a first come, first served basis while funding supplies last.

Cheshire County Veterans may visit the same or a new market each week for an additional $20 in vouchers. These may be used to purchase food items only. Vouchers have no cash value, are non-transferable, and must be redeemed at each market respectively by the end of September 2023.

To participate, veterans must provide (1) proof of Cheshire County residency (drivers’ license or piece of mail) and (2) proof of veteran status.

Valid forms of Veteran ID include: copy of DD214, Veteran Healthcare card, "Choose VA" Veterans ID card, NH Driver's license with a Veterans designation, Retired military ID card

Veterans from eligible towns include: Alstead, Chesterfield, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Richmond, Rindge, Roxbury, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Troy, Walpole, Westmoreland, and Winchester

Learn more about the Veteran Appreciation Month program and its impact by visiting: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/veterans

Please forward questions about the program to info@cheshireconservation.org or 603-756-2988 x3012.

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The Veteran Appreciation Month program would not be possible without the support of our community! If you would like to make a donation to support future funding of Veteran Appreciation Month, please do so on our website: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/donate.

Donations to Veteran Appreciation Month may also be made by mail, checks can be made payable to "CCCD" and addressed to 11 Industrial Park Dr., Walpole, NH 03608. Please include "VAM" in the memo line. Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated and make a difference!

This program has been modeled after the Vouchers for Veterans program started in 2016 by the Rochester Farmers' Market in Rochester, NH.

The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustainable forests, healthy watersheds, and clean water to ensure those resources are available for future generations. Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole, NH where we work alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners. For more information, contact Amanda Littleton at 603-756-2988 ext.3012 or email at amanda@cheshireconservation.org

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