Folkways

Why is SNAP Match at the Red River Market so important? At the Red River Market, over 53% of SNAP spending goes toward fresh vegetables, compared to just 8% nationally. This means that local families relying on SNAP are able to fill their tables with fresh, healthy food that supports long-term well-being. For children and developing bodies, nutrition is essential. Access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods has been linked to improved cognitive function, better school performance, and overall health. Yet, low-income households often face barriers to fresh food access. SNAP Match helps break that cycle by doubling the spending power of SNAP users at the Farmers Market, making fresh, local food more accessible. When given the opportunity, families want to invest in healthier choices. The SNAP Match at the Farmers Market makes that decision even easier. We are grateful to individual to groups like United Way of Cass-Clay who help fund our outreach and match for this program. Learn more about our SNAP Programming, Free MAT Bus Rides, and food education programs here: https://lnkd.in/gXH962uv

We're excited to cheer on Folkways Co-Founder and Executive Director, Joe Burgum next week at StartupBREW Fargo! Whether you're a longtime Folkways fan or just curious to learn more,? we invite you to join us to learn more about the Folkways story. Date: March 26th Time: Coffee starts at 8:00am, Program starts at 8:30am Location: The Prairie Den See you there! ??

? Volunteer With Us- We still have 4 slots open! ? We’re looking for volunteers to help make Night Bazaar Galactic Rodeo an unforgettable experience Event Date: March 27th Location: Brewhalla Why Volunteer? - Be part of an amazing community event - Meet new people & bring joy to others - Make a real impact & have fun while doing it! Sign up today and help us bring the magic to life! https://bit.ly/3Xmh5aO Tag a friend who should join you!

"While at school in Colorado I would watch Folkways events from afar, eager for the day I could attend Christkindlmarkt, or when summer break would eventually bring me back for the Red River Market. Now, I am grateful to be a part of creating the experience that ultimately played a role in attracting me back to the region." Learn more about our Manager of Development Emma McIntyre, and her cohort of United Way of Cass-Clay 35 Under 35 cohort in the most recent edition of Fargo INC! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d7XEDCsG

31% of ND seniors live alone—the highest rate in the nation. On March 1st, Folkways hosted a Senior Social ahead of our Senior Day at the Red River Market, creating space for connection, conversation, and community. And wow—did it resonate! Over 100 seniors joined us for coffee. The impact? A 100% open rate on our follow-up email—proving just how meaningful this gathering was. Our team was overjoyed with the level of participation and gears are already turning on additional ways to support our seniors. If you're interested in supporting this lane of programming- reach out to Emma McIntyre to learn more about how you can help support programming for seniors.

31% of North Dakota adults 65 and older live alone- this is higher than any other state in the US. In our work to combat loneliness and isolation, we are proud to add "Senior Day" as a Red River Market theme, highlighting the importance of social connectedness for our senior population here in the Red River Valley. We invite you to join us this Saturday at West Acres Development, LLP (West Acres) for our March Farmers Market (Aka: Our FIRST EVER Senior day!!) Are you 55+? Join us for a coffee social from 9am-11am in the Art Lounge off Center court!

The market is proud to support the next generation of engineers ?? (Aka: All of the kiddos that use the Blue Blocks each week.) At Folkways, we are committed to creating an intergenerational spaces, where families, students, and seniors alike can all gather to celebrate our community. Help keep these experiences possible through a donation this Giving Hearts Day ! Schedule your gift here: https://lnkd.in/eBhiNAgd

?? It's Giving Hearts Day week! With so many incredible nonprofits to support, we invite you to consider a donation to Red River Market this Thursday. The market is more than just a place to shop—it's an investment in our community’s quality of life. Your donation directly supports local small businesses, the arts, food access initiatives, and the vibrant gathering space that brings us all together. We are proud to provide YOUR Farmers Market, a vibrant space to gather and be with your neighbors.? You can make an impact by donating anytime from now until Thursday at midnight here: https://lnkd.in/eBhiNAgd

Thank you to all who joined us at the Red River Market this weekend with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota! ?? At this weekend's market we celebrated their new Blue Elements, an approach to turning the idea of total well-being into 6 simple categories – to make it easier to see how you can be the best version of yourself at every age. These elements are: > Emotional > Physical > Social > Financial > Professional > Community You can learn more about these elements here: https://lnkd.in/gierCuAb

Tomorrow!! ?? Join us for our Winter Wellness Market with BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH DAKOTA CARING FOUNDATION! With local vendors, FREE professional headshots, activities with Fargo Parks, Bank of North Dakota, and more- there's lots of fun to be had by all! We'll see you at West Acres Development, LLP (West Acres) 10:00am-2:00pm! ??