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Centre County Office of Aging to distribute $25 farmers‑market vouchers beginning June 2
Summary
Centre County’s Office of Aging will distribute $25 worth of farmers‑market vouchers to qualifying residents age 60 and older starting June 2; vouchers cover only Pennsylvania‑grown produce and are limited to Centre County residents who meet income guidelines.
As of June 2, Centre County’s Office of Aging will begin distributing farmers‑market vouchers worth a total of $25 per eligible person, county staff announced at the May 23 commissioners meeting.
The vouchers, which will be issued in $5 increments, are funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and administered locally by the Office of Aging. “Each voucher is $5. So it’s a total of $25,” Office of Aging staff member Claire said. She added that recipients must meet household income guidelines and be residents of Centre County.
Why this matters: the vouchers are intended to expand access to fresh, locally grown food for older residents. County staff said distribution will take place at multiple locations in the Willowbank building (rooms on the first through fourth floors) and at outreach sites across the county so residents have a short distance to pick up vouchers.
Program details and limits
Claire told commissioners that “the food is anything that is grown in Pennsylvania, so you cannot get pineapple with your vouchers.” She also said the program’s age minimum is 60: “He must be 60 years or older.” Vouchers will be distributed beginning June 2 but cannot be used before that date, staff said.
The Office of Aging said it expects a delivery of paper vouchers within a day or two and urged residents to check the county website for a list of distribution locations and participating farmers markets. Staff noted distribution will initially be spread across several rooms on the Willowbank first floor because of a shortage of meeting space.
What the county decided
No formal vote was required; staff presented the program as an informational announcement and said no action by the board was necessary to begin distribution.
Next steps
Residents who think they qualify were directed to the county website for the list of participating markets and the household income guidelines. The Office of Aging will also use volunteers and staff at distribution points to assist recipients.
