Food Assistance Programs

Have SNAP? Get more fruits & veggies with Double Up Food Bucks NY!

What is Double Up Food Bucks?

Double Up Food Bucks NY is a nutrition incentive program that allows you to double your food dollars and get FREE fresh fruits and veggies with your SNAP benefits! Shop for fresh produce at participating Double Up Food Bucks NY locations and get $1 for every $1 you spend in Double Up Food Bucks (between $5- $20 a day) to purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables the next time you shop. This makes fruits and vegetables more affordable helping SNAP shoppers stretch their food dollars even farther, it supports local farmers and helps boost our local economy. Don’t wait, Double Up today!

How does it work?

  • For every $1 SNAP shoppers spend on fresh produce, they will earn $1 in Double Up Food Bucks to be used on their next purchase of produce, between $5-$20 per day.

  • Double Up Food Bucks can only be used to purchase fresh, whole produce, minimally processed produce without additives (salt, fat, sugar, preservatives), and produce bearing plants.

  • When you check out at the store, use your SNAP benefits to earn and redeem Double Up Food Bucks for your SNAP eligible purchases.

  • If you’re shopping at a farmers market, visit the Market’s SNAP booth to get your SNAP tokens and Double Up Food Bucks tokens.

  • For a complete list of locations that participate in Double Up Food Bucks NY, please visit https://doubleupnys.com/.

  • For a complete list of Double Up Food Bucks Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), please visit https://doubleupnys.com/how-double-up-food-bucks-works/faq/.

North Country Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx)

This program is available through the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

What is it? 

  • The goal of the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx) is to help you learn new, healthy ways to eat more fruits and vegetables to combat risks of food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease. 

How does it work? 

  • Contact your healthcare provider to see if you are eligible for a referral. 

  • Participate in LIVE cooking demonstrations and six weeks of nutrition workshops. 

  • Receive $25 in vouchers at each workshop (one per week of the 6-week workshop, total value of $150). 

Am I eligible? 

  • Are you at risk of or diagnosed with a diet-related chronic disease? 

  • In the last year, have you worried your food would run out before you got money to buy more, or had difficulty keeping enough food in the house until you had money to get more? 

  • To get started, ask your healthcare provider for more information and/or to make a referral.

Click here for more about the North Country Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program

Potsdam Food
Co-op “Good Food” Voucher Program

The Potsdam Food Co-op launched the “Good Food” voucher program to provide grocery assistance to individuals and families experiencing hardship. Vouchers are purchased by generous community members. The vouchers are then given directly to the Potsdam Neighborhood Center, who distributes them to individuals and families in need.

Click here for more about our voucher program!

Other Community Resources

Promoting a local food system that ensures food security for all St. Lawrence County residents.

Deep Root Center offers a transformative alternative to traditional schooling for young people ages 5-19.

The mission of Neighborhood Centers is to help people in their communities move toward
self-sufficiency. Obtaining available aid is often a difficult task for individuals and families, yet within the communities lie resources and assistance for those who need them.