If you’d like to learn more about partnering with Wabasha County SHIP, email Tina Moen, SHIP Coordinator or call 651-565-5200.
“EBT/SNAP CHAMPIONS! Let’s Unite!” wrote Sara George, Wabasha Farmers Market Manager, in 2016. The letter invited those interested to attend a meeting at Wabasha County Public Health to work on increasing EBT usage at the Farmers Market. Today this group continues to meet and work toward increasing access to healthy food across Wabasha County.
The first meeting occurred in June 2016 with 16 participants who came ready and excited about working to find solutions to increase access to healthy foods for local underserved populations. As needs were identified, the group decided it was important to continue meeting. Next, a presentation from U of M Extension talked about the Minnesota Food Charter and afterwards we evolved into the Wabasha County Food Access Network (WCFAN). In addition to working with our county’s farmers markets on increasing use of EBT, the group has identified the following priorities:
Increasing access to healthy foods for Seniors
Reducing stigma attached to receiving services
Increasing knowledge of healthy food opportunities through outreach, and
Increasing access to affordable transportation.to access healthy foods.