A collaborative effort to get fresh summer produce to mothers and young children in WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) is expanding this summer into Fort Worth from its original sites last year in Arlington, Haltom City and White Settlement. For the second consecutive summer, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Tarrant Area Food Bank, Tarrant County WIC clinics and the Downtown Farmers Market Association are teaming up to offer low-income and impoverished moms and their young kids the opportunity to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, which are often too expensive for hungry families. The TDA offers this opportunity through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. In Tarrant County, the program is focused on serving WIC clients. Recruited by Tarrant Area Food Bank, the Downtown Farmers Market Association sets up at designated WIC clinics on scheduled dates so WIC families can buy fresh produce with vouchers supplied by TDA and distributed by food bank staff and volunteers. The food bank is the local coordinator of the nutrition program. The summer schedule for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program is: Tuesdays, June 11, July 9 and Aug. 13 at Bagsby-Williams WIC Clinic, 3212 Miller Ave., Fort Worth; Thursdays, June 13, July 11 and Aug. 15 at Southwest WIC Clinic, 6551 Granbury Road, Fort Worth; Tuesdays, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17 at White Settlement WIC Clinic, 1638 S. Cherry Lane, Fort Worth; Wednesdays, June 5, July 3, July 31 and Sept. 4 at Haltom City WIC Clinic, 4113 Denton Highway, Haltom City; and Thursdays, June 27, July 25, Aug. 29 and Sept. 26 at New York WIC Clinic, 1608 New York Ave., Arlington.
FW men honored for advocacy James Holcomb and Stan Effertz have received the Outstanding Older American Award and Outstanding Advocate for Older Americans Award, respectively, for their devotion to the needs of older residents. The men were honored at the Older Americans Month reception May 30 hosted by United Way of Tarrant County and its Area Agency on Aging in Fort Worth. The Outstanding Older American Award honors an individual in Tarrant County who is at least 60 and who continues to lead a dignified, independent and productive life and to contribute to the community. The Outstanding Advocate for Older Americans Award honors a Tarrant County individual of any age who exemplifies dedication to improving the quality of life for older adults locally. Holcomb, 81 and a resident of Tarrant County for 56 years, founded a fundraising consulting firm that serves nonprofit clients across the community and has a significant personal record of volunteer community service. He has been a member and deacon of University Christian Church and a member of Leadership Fort Worth for 38 years, and has been involved with the Symphony League and Fort Worth Opera. He has served on several boards, including those of Senior Citizen Services, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. He also has served as a trustee of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, provided leadership for the National Committee on Planned Giving and the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning, and has been an ambassador for the International Certified Fund Raising Executives. Since the early 1990s, Holcomb has been elected to three terms of six years each on the board of Senior Citizen Services of Greater Tarrant County. Holcomb also remains active with the Association of Fund Raising Professionals, Center for Non-Profit Management and the Rotary Club of Fort Worth. Known as “Super Stan” at Meals On Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County, Effertz has been a leader on the Meals On Wheels board for six years. His interest in helping older adults started 15 years ago when he began serving on the Meals On Wheels Fundraising Committee to develop a golf tournament. Effertz is the only committee member who has been involved since the beginning. With his help, the golf tournaments have paid for 120,000 meals during the last 15 years. In addition to assisting with the golf tournaments, Effertz helps at every fundraising event. He hauls beverages, boxes and goodie bags; hangs decorations and maintains balance sheets. He visits with corporate leaders and mayors during the Mayors for Meals and Big Wheels events to inform them about the growing need for services for older adults. Effertz also delivers meals weekly and substitutes on other days.
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