What is a Donation Station?

Donation Stations are booths set up at farmers markets where volunteers:

• Collect food donations (like produce, honey, eggs, bread) that shoppers have purchased at the market.
• Accept monetary donations from shoppers, which are used to buy additional food directly from the farmers at full price.
• Gather unsold produce that farmers choose to donate at the end of the market.

All collected food is then donated to a local hunger relief agency, helping those in need while reducing food waste.🔄 How Does It Work?

1. Volunteers set up a booth and engage with market shoppers about the program.
2. Shoppers donate:
   • Fresh foods they purchase at the market.
   • Money, which volunteers use immediately to buy food from farmers.
3. Farmers are paid full price, supporting their business.
4. Hunger relief agencies receive the donated food to share with their clients or use in community meals.

🍞 What Can Be Donated?Based on the needs of the local community and the capacity of the hunger relief agency, donations may include:

• Produce (fruits, vegetables)
• Eggs (if proper storage is available)
• Bread
• Edible plants

Note: Meat and poultry are generally not accepted due to cost and lack of refrigeration.💡 Why Support a Donation Station?

• Local Impact: All donations stay within your community.
• Zero Overhead: Run entirely by volunteers — donations go directly to food, not administrative costs.
• Farmer Support: Farmers are fairly compensated, boosting the local economy.
• Community Benefit: Those most in need gain access to nutritious, local food they might not otherwise afford.

Donation Stations are a powerful example of community-driven solutions to hunger that also strengthen the local food system. They embody the principle that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food — and that we can support each other while supporting local agriculture.