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As a tough year comes to a close, we at ASAP want to send you our deep gratitude and appreciation as we move hopefully into 2021.
With your support in 2020, we were able to quickly respond to meet the emerging needs of farmers and communities as lives and businesses were upended by the pandemic. We provided farmers and farmers markets with grants, technical assistance, and supplies like hand sanitizer, masks, packaging, and signs. ASAP Farmers Market opened at A-B Tech to model safe farmers market protocols and provide a sales outlet for vendors displaced by the closure or delay of other markets. We made updates to the Local Food Guide to help farmers, markets, restaurants, and others connect with customers as conditions rapidly changed.
We also launched and expanded several initiatives to help families access fresh, healthy food—while continuing to support local farmers.
With Appalachian Farms Feeding Families, ASAP is able to pay farmers to deliver their produce to food pantries and child care centers in their own communities. Farmers recoup some of their losses from restaurant and food service shutdowns, while food pantries and feeding sites gain access to high quality fresh fruits and vegetables. This program supported 28 farms and 26 food distribution and meal sites in 18 counties this year, providing fresh, local food to 3,000 to 4,000 families each week. In 2021 we hope to offer the program in every WNC county.
Double SNAP is a one-to-one match on dollars spent through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at farmers markets. For every dollar spent using SNAP/EBT, customers get twice that amount to buy fresh, healthy food. That money goes directly to local farmers and food producers. ASAP is now supporting Double SNAP at eight farmers markets with plans to expand in the coming year as need remains high.
Our Growing Minds Farm to School program created new digital educational resources, including Growing Minds Day By Day and Meet Your Farmer video series, that can be used by both educators and families. Virtual farm to school training was provided to 100 educators, as well as to 38 Dietetic Interns. We distributed more than 3,000 seed packets to families through school and community meal sites.
Please help ASAP build on these vital initiatives—as well as continue to expand and adapt our existing programs—in 2021. Your gift to ASAP helps build strong farms and healthy communities. We wish you a healthy and happy new year.
With gratitude,
 Charlie Jackson
Executive Director
P.S. Did you know the CARES Act may allow you to deduct up to $300 in gifts to qualified charities—such as ASAP—even if you take the standard deduction for the 2020 calendar year? If you do itemize deductions, you may be able to deduct donations up to 100% of your 2020 adjusted gross income for cash gifts to charity. Learn more on the IRS website.
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Brian Asbill, President
Amy Ager, Vice President
Julie Jensen, Secretary
Terri Orange, Treasurer
Duane Adams
William Dissen
Craig Mauney
Joey Owle
Lisa C. Payne
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