Fuel Up! Free Lunch + Food Benefits in Prospect Park
July 17, 2024
Fuel up this summer in Prospect Park! Did you know that eating healthy foods can increase your lifespan, reduce risks of chronic disease and even boost your mood and support mental health? Brooklyn’s Backyard is a haven for health and wellness all year long, and this summer, Prospect Park Alliance, NYC Department of Education and GrowNYC are sharing even more ways to fuel up and stay healthy, from a free lunch truck for youth to our greenmarkets offering food benefits for fresh locally grown produce, globally-inspired ingredients and much more.
Learn more about free and low-cost healthy food resources in Prospect Park.
Free Summer Meals Truck
Parkside and Ocean Avenue Entrance
Daily through August 30: 10 am–4 pm on weekdays and 11 am–3 pm on weekends
Calling all youth! Youth ages 18 and under can stop by the Free Meals Truck at the Parkside and Ocean Avenue Entrance to Prospect Park for free healthy and delicious food options daily through August 30. Distributed by the NYC Department of Education in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, the truck offers a menu of healthy options all summer long including sandwiches, salads, wraps, hummus, snacks and more. Learn more and view the daily menu.
GrowNYC Greenmarket Food Access Initiatives
Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, Saturdays, Year Round, 8 am–4 pm
Bartel-Pritchard Square Greenmarket, Wednesdays, Year Round, 8 am–2 pm and Sundays, May 12–December 22, 9 am–2 pm
As part of GrowNYC’s mission to provide equitable access to fresh food, all GrowNYC Greenmarkets, including Brooklyn’s flagship Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza and the Greenmarket at Bartel-Pritchard Square, offer a range of ways to purchase healthy, nutritious locally grown food. From Pipicha and Papalo to Green and Red Shiso to Copalchi and Callaloo, so many fresh ingredients can be found at Greenmarkets in Prospect Park. Whether you’re searching for flavors of home or trying out a new recipe, GrowNYC Greenmarkets in Prospect Park offer fresh ingredients to help you create dishes from cultures across the globe.
Plus, the markets accept a range of nutrition benefit programs:
- Summer EBT: Beginning in July 2024, New York State will launch Summer EBT (Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer), a new program that provides families with food benefits to help buy groceries during the summer when school children might not have access to school meals. Most eligible children will receive Summer EBT food benefits automatically; however, some families may need to apply. Learn more about eligibility and what Summer EBT means for your family.
- SNAP/EBT Benefits: All year long, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), including Summer EBT, can be used to purchase any edible item at the market including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, honey, jam, dairy, breads and baked goods. Visit the market information tent to swipe your EBT-SNAP card in exchange for wooden tokens that can be spent at the market.
- Health Bucks: Health Bucks are $2 coupons sponsored by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all farmers markets throughout New York City. To help stretch SNAP benefits and encourage the purchase of healthy local food, anyone who spends $2 in SNAP benefits at the Greenmarket will receive a bonus $2 Health Buck, for up to $10 per day.
- Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP): The New York State Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) helps provide fresh fruits and vegetables to women, infants, children and low-income older adults. FMNP distributes five $5 checks to eligible participants for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets from June through November.
- FreshConnect Coupons: FreshConnect Coupons are $2 coupons distributed at Division of Veterans’ Affairs offices to military veterans, and service members and their families. These coupons can be used at Greenmarkets to purchase any SNAP-eligible item.
Learn about all Nutrition Benefit Programs accepted at GrowNYC markets.
Wonder how you can make the most of your benefits at Greenmarkets in Prospect Park? Speak with representatives on site at the GrowNYC information tent to help you find out the best option for you. Plus, stop by the GrowNYC information tent to pick up free recipes, view cooking demonstrations from guest chefs from local restaurants and speak with local community groups.
Learn more about health and wellness in Brooklyn’s Backyard.