Hello Friends,

We are reaching out to ask for your support for our CSA scholarship fund. Needs have risen dramatically and our usual fundraising efforts are falling far short. We are in danger of turning dozens of people down for food they are relying on if we cannot raise enough to meet our goals.

We have been offering scholarships to the CSA since the first years of this farm. The scholarship fund offers discounts to low income CSA members who cannot otherwise afford to be part of the farm. Through the program we have supported many dozens of low income families to access healthy food and find connection with our farm. We have been so successful, in fact, that our requests grow each year. For the past few years we have offered more scholarships than any other CSA in Vermont, despite our relatively small size. We've managed this through many small (and not so small) donations from friends and customers, Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), and increasingly, by underwriting the discounts ourselves. This year, our requests have grown again and we are facing the reality of not being able to support all those who need it. To meet the demand, we need to raise $6000 by the end of March. All donations will be matched 1:1 by NOFA-VT, and 2:1 by the recipients of the scholarship (that's a 4:1 match!).

Our farm fundraises for these scholarships year round in various ways. 100% of tips left in the farm store go towards scholarships. We have been selling hot drinks at sleigh rides to support the fund, and we have donated thousands of dollars ourselves. But our efforts are coming up far below the real needs in our community. We know there's a lot of needs out there right now, and we wouldn't ask if we didn't believe in the importance of this work. Your donation would support a diverse group of people who value the quality food and connection that a CSA share provides. Donations made through givebutter.com are not tax deductible, but you can also donate tax-free through NOFA-VT's website. Please note if donating through nofavt.org you must choose 'Farmshare' as the Campaign and "Wild Carrot Farm" in the Donor Note for your gift to reach this program.

Thank you so much for your generosity. Don't hesitate to reach out directly if you have questions or wish to make a gift directly.

Gratefully,

Caitlin, Jesse, Rebekah, Clair, Lydia and the rest of the Wild Carrot Community

CSA Scholarship Fund