Westport, Conn. – Lori Cochran-Dougall, Director of the Westport Farmers’ Market (WFM), announced that the organization is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the esteemed Newman’s Own Foundation. The grant funding, which the WFM also received last year, supports its commitment to Homes for the Brave’s Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes program, located in Bridgeport.
The Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes Program is Connecticut’s first and only community-based transitional home exclusively for homeless female Veterans and their young children. Through this generous grant funding, homeless female veterans will continue to work with this local farmers’ market who facilitates and funds chefs and ingredients from the WFM community. Together they prepare, cook, and serve a meal. Several of the participants have secured employment directly from working with local chefs and the WFM.
“This program establishes community built around shared experiences and partaking in a meal -- from preparing the ingredients to cooking the meal to sitting around a table,” Elizabeth Gorenburg, Director of Communications and Outreach for of Homes for the Brave, said. “We are grateful to Newman’s Own Foundation for this grant, which allows us to continue this important partnership with Westport Farmers’ Market.”
Participating chefs include: Jes Bengston of Terrain, Jennifer Balin of Sugar & Olives, Dan Sabia of Fire Food Wood, Jay Leblanc of Knot Norm's, Anthony Rinaldi of Kawa Ni, Phoebe Cole Smith of Dirt Road Farm, Liz Rueven of Kosher Like Me and Ian Hock of Jesup Hall.
Grants from Newman’s Own Foundation are awarded to not-for-profit organizations that support its mission of giving back to the community. Of its four areas of focus, WFM applied for a grant that allows it to “implement model solutions to address fresh food access and nutrition education in underserved communities.”
According to Lori Cochran-Dougall, the grant is especially poignant as Paul Newman, a former Westport resident[JB1] , was one of the market’s founders in 2006.
“Paul Newman brought life to the market we know and love today,” she said. “I am proud that we are able to carry on his vision and help the WFM market, its farmers, and beneficiaries including Homes for the Brave, to thrive. This award is close to my heart as it allows us to be able to continue to serve those who have served our country, and that, in of itself, is a privilege.”
The Westport Farmer’s Market
The WFM is a 501c(3) organization committed to providing fresh, local, healthy, and seasonal food to area residents. Its mission is to increase awareness, knowledge, and support for local producers who are focused on sustainable and healthy growing practices while aspiring to create a fun, safe and healthy community environment for education and socialization.
For more information about the WFM, visit www.westportfarmersmarket.com, email director@westportfarmersmarket.com, or join @westportfarmersmarket on FB, Instagram, and Twitter.
For additional information about Newman’s Own Foundation, visit http://newmansownfoundation.org/; and for information about the Homes for the Brave program, visit: https://www.homesforthebrave.org/
The Westport Farmers’ Market receives philanthropic support from: Boxcar Cantina; Cohen and Wolf; Club Pilates Westport; CTBites; CTFM; Doc’s Maple; Eileen Fisher; Farah’s Farm; Fleishers; Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center; Moffly Media; Newman’s Own Foundation; Sugar & Olives; Westport Sunrise Rotary; Terrain; Town of Westport; Waddell &Reed; Wave Hill Breads; The Whelk; and Whole Foods Westport.