The Senior Farmers Market Program will be offered again this year to eligible Carbon County senior citizens age 60 and over.

This program is made possible through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Distribution.

The Carbon County Area Agency on Aging staff will be distributing $20 in vouchers, free to eligible seniors. The purpose is to encourage older adults to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers who make their produce available at farmers markets throughout Pennsylvania.

Eligibility requirements are that seniors must be a Carbon County resident age 60 or older by Dec. 31. Total gross annual income for a single person household must be at or below $22,459 and $30,451 for a two-person household. A couple is entitled to $20 in vouchers each.

You must show your driver’s license or photo ID as proof of residence. The vouchers cannot be mailed.

If you cannot go to the distribution sites, a representative can pick up the vouchers for you as long as the representative brings a completed proxy form signed by you. A proxy form is needed for those picking up for spouses.

Proxy forms are available in advance at all five senior centers and by calling the Area Agency on Aging at 800-441-1315.

The distribution schedule for vouchers is as follows. All distributions will take place between 1 and 3 p.m.

• June 11 at Lehighton Senior Center, 243 S. Eighth St., Lehighton

• June 14 at Weatherly Senior Center, 335 Third St., Weatherly

• June 15 at Nesquehoning Fire Company, 953 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning

• June 18 at Palmerton Senior Center, 501 Delaware Ave., Palmerton

• June 21 at Jim Thorpe/Penn-Kidder Senior Center, Bear Creek Plaza, Route 903, Jim Thorpe

For those unable to come on these dates, and provided there are vouchers still available, there will be another distribution on June 22 at the Lehighton Senior Center.

Schuylkill County

Farm market vouchers will soon be available to eligible Schuylkill County older adults.

Diakon Community Services is administering the 2018 Senior Farm Market Nutrition Program through the Schuylkill County Senior Community Centers.

A program of the state Department of Agriculture, the Senior Farm Market Nutrition Program will issue “farm-market vouchers” to eligible older adults, with distribution at the senior community centers Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning June 5.

In addition, vouchers will be distributed at additional locations:

• June 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 W. Broad St.

• June 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., McAdoo Fire Company, Grant and Hancock streets.

Those eligible must have turned 60 before Dec. 31 of this year and be a county resident. Income guidelines for eligibility are $22,459 for a single-person household and $30,451 for a two-person household.

People unable to attend the distribution may have someone else pick up their voucher, but must provide a signed proxy form at the time of distribution. Proxy forms are available at all senior community centers or may be requested through email to any of the senior centers. Only official 2018 Senior Farm Market Nutrition Program proxy forms will be accepted.

The senior centers and contact information are:

• Pottsville Senior Community Center, 201 N. Centre St., 570-628-3513, evansd@diakon.org.

• Shenandoah Senior Community Center, 116 N. Main St., 570-462-1965, biscob@diakon.org.

• Mahanoy City Senior Community Center, 138 W. Centre St., 570-773-0738 dicasimirrom@diakon.org.

For more information, people may contact their local senior center or Diakon Community Services at 570-624-3016 or, toll-free, at 800-621-6325.

The centers are operated by Diakon Community Services under contract with the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services with funding from the state Department of Aging.