Over the past few weeks, Freedom Prep Academy – Tennessee region teachers and staff have been working with full hearts to support our families. Thanks to the generosity of our partners at SLA, we were able to host a cheerful farmers’ market filled with fresh fruits and vegetables for our students and families.
This market, supported through the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, became much more than a table of produce. It created a space for care, connection, and nourishment at a time of year when those moments matter most.
“We are hosting a food drive funded through the USDA. We are giving away fresh fruits and vegetables,” shared Verlie Holloway, the assistant general manager of SLA Management. She added that this type of market is a familiar joy that SLA brings to schools across the country.
“With the uncertainty around SNAP benefits for families, Freedom Prep wanted to support our families during the holidays and provide some extra assistance to those who might need it,” said director of operations Tiffany Williams.
Knowing how important access to fresh, healthy food is for our students and their families, we wanted to create a space where everyone could come together, shop with ease, and feel the spirit of community during this special time of year.
A few of our campuses hosted their own special market day. Parkrose opened the season on November 7. Brownlee and Flagship rounded out the month on November 21. More dates are planned throughout the holidays to keep this support going for the families we love.
“At FPA Westwood, we are excited to partner with SLA to provide fresh produce for our families,” said Dr. Arthur Rosenthal, Head of School at FPA Westwood Elementary. “We are honored to support our families and grateful for the generosity of our school community and the USDA grant.”
“With the latest government SNAP program updates, creating our food market was the best solution. It’s a farmers market experience we bring directly to many of our schools,” explained Verlie Holloway.
At Freedom Prep, our students and families are at the center of everything we do. We hope the inaugural FPA Farmers Market brings a bit of joy, comfort, and ease to our community as we move through this holiday season together.
Want to see how our community came together for this special event? Here is the full news feature from WREG News: https://wreg.com/news/memphis-school-holds-free-farmers-market-for-families/amp/
