Vouchers for Veterans is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by Jeanne Grover in 2016.  Along with friends Alicia Frye and Jen Marsh, they co-foundered the Rochester Farmers Market in Rochester, New Hampshire. It was out of Jeanne’s and Alicia’s shared desire to find a way to give back to local Veterans in honor of their service, while providing a boost to local farmers, that Vouchers for Veterans became a reality.

The mission of Vouchers for Veterans is to thank Veterans living in New Hampshire and Southern Maine for their service by primarily providing them vouchers to purchase local food directly from the growers at local Farmers Markets.

The program was launched in 2016 at the Rochester Farmers Market during the month of September, a time when markets are typically overflowing with produce but see fewer customers as families are busy with back to school activities and the high tourist season has ended. During September, which is Hunger Awareness Month, the vouchers support the farmers by keeping money in local communities and give veterans access to nutritious foods.

Word of Vouchers for Veterans has spread, and other communities are interested in the program, so Jeanne, with the board of directors, is creating a plan to expand the program to other counties and into Maine. To reach that goal, Vouchers for Veterans became a registered New Hampshire nonprofit corporation and a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in 2018 so more Veterans can be served. Your financial contribution can make that goal a reality! 

In 2019 the organization expanded into an additional 3 counties. Along with the original Strafford County program held at the Rochester Farmers Market, we may also be found in Belknap County at the Barnstead Farmers Market, in Grafton County at the Littleton Farmers Market and in York County, Maine at the Sanford Farmers Market. In 2020 it is our goal to expand into Rockingham County at the Portsmouth Farmers Market. In 2019 we reached 1,250 Veterans with plans of doubling that number in 2020.