Local Food Resources
If you’re struggling financially and having a difficult time providing nourishing meals for yourself or your family, please know that there are many resources available to you. Below is a list of links where you can find additional information about programs that can provide funding assistance to help low-income individuals and families purchase healthy, nutritious food.
Southern Maryland also has an abundance of local farmers markets and farm stands where you can find healthy and locally raised fruits, vegetables, meats and more.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Maryland WIC
Providing healthy supplemental foods and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five.
Maryland SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households buy the food they need for good health. LifeStyles of Maryland offers assistance to anyone interested in applying for SNAP benefits. For more information, contact Jakia Ball at 301-609-9900 ext. 205 or jball@lifestylesofmd.org.
Meals on Wheels
Home Delivered Meals may be available for eligible seniors and their spouses who are homebound due to illness or disability, and are unable to shop for food and prepare meals for themselves.For assistance, please call: 301-934-0138 or 301-870-3388 ext. 5138
LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS & RESOURCES
La Plata Farmers Market
The La Plata Farmers Market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-2pm, from early April through late November. The market is located behind the Charles County Courthouse in the parking lot on the north side of Talbot Street on Wednesdays and in the parking lot on the south side of Talbot Street on Saturdays. Vendors sell a wide variety of goods, from fresh fruits, vegetables, and home-baked goods, to jams, jellies, pickled vegetables, local spirits, and home-made crafts and bath and body products. The market also features food trucks with a variety of ready-to-eat food, drinks, and snacks.
For those using federal nutrition benefits, Maryland Market Money offers a dollar-for-dollar match at the La Plata Farmers Market to help make your food budget go farther. Check out the flyer for details.
Waldorf Farmers Market
The Waldorf Farmers Market is open Saturdays, 10am-2pm, from May to November at 3003 Festival Way at the intersection of US-301 and MD-5. Shoppers can find a selection of farm-raised vegetables and produce, herbs, flowers, baked goods and more.
SMADC Buy Local Guide
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission has compiled listings of local farmers markets, including the La Plata Farmers Market and the Waldorf Farmers Market, as well as local farm stands and stores.
Maryland Market Money
Maryland Market Money is a statewide food access program that feeds Marylanders and supports farmers through farmers markets. MMM removes economic barriers by providing a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases made using federal nutrition benefits at Maryland farmers markets. Check out the flyer for more details.
Local Farms
Charles County farms — including Bowling Green Farm and Hancock Family Farms — donate locally raised food to organizations supporting individuals and families in need across Southern Maryland.
OTHER RESOURCES
Eat Smart | University of Maryland Extension
Eat Smart shares healthy recipes and weekly blog posts with nutrition and physical activity ideas to help your family make healthy choices. Eat Smart is part of the Maryland SNAP-Ed program.
My Plate — Healthy Eating On a Budget | USDA
Discover a variety of resources and tools to help you find cost-saving opportunities and plan nourishing meals with healthy foods available throughout the community.