Non-Profit Brings Farmers Markets To Low-Income Seniors

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — In 2020, Jacci Richards was grieving the unexpected loss of both of her parents when her family decided to give back to seniors struggling during a COVID holiday season.

At the time, they just wanted to do something nice for low-income seniors in memory of their parents, Richards said. Just over two years later the Fisher Outreach Group, a Crystal Lake-based non-profit organization focused on giving back to those in need, has launched several programs meant to help seniors struggling financially, including its Adopt-A-Grandparent Garden Program.

The Adopt-A-Garden Program is two-fold.

As part of the program, container gardens with flowers and produce the senior requests are planted and given to the local senior to care for. And the second part of the program involves farmers markets brought to local senior facilities.

Starting last summer, Richards grew fresh produce at her home in Crystal Lake and then set up a farmers market and distributed the fruits and vegetables to about 67 low-income seniors living at Fair Oaks Health Care Center in Crystal Lake every Friday between mid-June and September.

She spotted a need for the program after learning several low-income seniors were struggling to pay for groceries and buy produce.

"It's just a great way to get them out of their room to socialize and to get fresh fruits and vegetables that they want and need," Fisher said.

This year, five senior housing facilities have signed up to take part in the program: Gable Point Senior Housing in Crystal Lake, The Villager in Crystal Lake, Walden Oaks Apartments in Woodstock, Crossroads Care Center in Woodstock and Alden Courts of Huntley. This means more than 350 seniors will be getting fresh produce from the farmers markets this summer — a nearly 500 percent jump from last year.

This also means Fisher is going to have to grow a lot more produce this summer. She is planning to plant "just about everything you can imagine" for fruits and vegetables on a 1/4 acre of her one-acre property

"We have no doubt we will reach our goal for planting," she said.

She is concerned about covering the increase in costs, which has come now that there is more interest in the program. She says about $7,000 more needs to be raised to cover the container gardens and the farmers markets.

Those wishing to give back can donate $25 to adopt a grandparent. That amount will cover the costs for a container garden and the fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers distributed weekly to local seniors.

Donations can be made on the Fisher Outreach Group's website, via Zelle at fisheroutreachgroup@yahoo.com, on the organization's GoFundMe page or can be mailed to 8600 US Hwy 14, Suite 106A, Crystal Lake, IL 60012.