(MyKeeneNow) – In a continued effort to honor and support local veterans, the Cheshire County Conservation District has announced the return of its Veteran Appreciation Month initiative. Launched in 2018, this program offers veterans a $20 voucher each week throughout September, redeemable at participating farmers’ markets across Cheshire County.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the CCCD, local farmers’ markets, and the Cheshire Medical Center’s Center for Population Health. It aims to increase veterans’ access to fresh, healthy foods while simultaneously bolstering the local agricultural economy. By providing veterans with these vouchers, the program not only expresses gratitude for their service but also helps sustain local farms.

Eligible veterans can visit one of four participating markets each weekend to receive their vouchers. The markets include the Hinsdale Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM, the Keene Farmers’ Market also on Saturdays during the same hours, the TEAM Jaffrey Farmers’ Market on Fridays from 3 PM to 6 PM, and the Winchester Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM. Vouchers are distributed at a designated Veteran Appreciation Month booth on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

To collect their $20 voucher, veterans must present valid identification proving both their Cheshire County residency and veteran status. Acceptable forms of ID include a DD214, Veteran Healthcare card, or a New Hampshire driver’s license with a veteran designation. The vouchers are non-transferable, have no cash value, and must be used for food purchases at the market where they were received by the end of September.

The program, which mirrors the successful Vouchers for Veterans initiative that began in 2016 at the Rochester Farmers’ Market in Rochester, NH, has become a vital part of the community. It not only supports veterans but also ensures the vitality of local farms by driving business to these markets.

For more details about the Veteran Appreciation Month program, including eligibility and participating locations, visit the CCCD website. The community is also encouraged to support the program through donations, which can be made online or via mail to the CCCD office in Walpole, NH. These contributions are essential in continuing this valuable initiative.

For further information, or to request printed materials about the program, contact the conservation district directly at info@cheshireconservation.org or 904-3011.