Kim and Matt Powell, owners of Black Creek Farm
“Karen Grisevich runs a nonprofit called FeedRVA, which has done a lot to make the South of the James Farmer’s Market assessible to families with SNAP benefits, ensuring them quality food for their families. She’s also worked tirelessly to support people with disabilities, employing them and allowing them to earn money, be exposed to a highly social environment, and learn life skills.”
Every Saturday, Edward, who is a graduate of The Next Move Program (click to read their story), is at the South of the James (SOTJ) Farmer’s Market welcoming customers with a smile, directing cars to parking, and helping man the FeedRVA booth.
Edward is a market employee of FeedRVA, a GrowRVA nonprofit program focused on educating RVA communities on the importance of food systems; healthy, lifelong nutritional habits; and accessibility to quality food. FeedRVA’s immediate mission is to create a matching funds system for farmer’s markets that use SNAP/EBT.
Over the past 12 years, GrowRVA has also given over 25 nonprofits the opportunity to set up at the SOTJ market, which draws a wide swath of the RVA community every weekend, to raise awareness for their missions.
Edward was initially a volunteer with FeedRVA but has since been hired onto the team. When he’s not hanging out with friends, learning to drive or drumming with SPARC (click to read their story), he’s at the farmer’s market, supporting both customers and vendors.
The young man loves being a regular within the SOTJ community. If you’re a regular yourself—whether vendor or shopper—you can count on Edward to recognize you when he sees you … and maybe even greet you by name!
Help educate RVA communities on the importance of healthy, lifelong nutritional habits today by volunteering or donating to FeedRVA!
