Fairbanks, we need your help.
In the recent federal cuts, a unique & important community program lost the funding that made it possible. Community Meals are free weekly dinners offered at the Southside Community Farmers’ Market all summer long: every Tuesday, June – September, 4-6:30PM at 24th & Rickert. These healthy, locally-sourced meals are lovingly created by professional chefs & are FREE to anyone who cares to share.
The Southside Market is a seasonal outdoor community market, located in the heart of Fairbanks’ South Cushman neighborhood, featuring Alaska grown & produced food. While this neighborhood is the most food insecure in our city, it is also a vibrant & active community with many members who participate in & support the Market. Along with the neighborhood steering committee, Calypso Farm organizes the Southside Market. This year, the Southside Market is coming into its TENTH summer of selling vegetables, eggs & other farm-based goods from farmers, bakers & local food makers.
The Southside Market is dedicated to making quality, local food accessible to everyone. In their commitment to food justice, the Southside Market accepts SNAP (food stamps), WIC, Senior Farmers Market Coupons & offers “Pay What You Can” discounts – up to 50% off – to anyone in need.
Part of this work is a years-long cooperative partnership between Calypso Farm & the Bread Line to provide Community Meals featuring seasonal foods from Market vendors. Whether you’re a market customer, a Southside neighbor, or just in need of good company & good food – everyone is welcome at this table. By bringing people together in an accessible space, Community Meals provides nutritious & simple meals that showcase local ingredients & are easy to recreate in a home kitchen. Last summer, volunteers served over 4,000 free Community Meals at the Southside Market!
Community Meals was funded by the USDA’s successful Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) program. The LFPA paid local farmers to share their harvests with anti-hunger nonprofits. Through the Southside Market, the LFPA also reimbursed local farmers for produce distributed to food insecure residents at Southall, Golden Towers & Golden Ages – all of whom are senior citizens or Alaskans with disabilities. This investment in local economy supported Fairbanks farmers & provided critical food relief for vulnerable Alaskans. In March of 2025, the federal government pulled this funding without warning. Many participating farmers had already purchased seed & planned to expand their harvest potential before learning the program had been defunded.
The Community Meals project has partnered with many local growers all who sell their wares at the Southside Market:
Yellow Wood Farm – chicken, pork, bread
Calypso Farm – produce
Boreal Woods – mushrooms
Arctic Apothecary – honey & herbs
Community Roots Program – produce
Persephone Gardens – homemade sauce & bread
Heavenly Leaven – bread
Cattail Farm – produce
Joyful Journey Farm – produce
Offbeat Farm – fish
Fine Eggs – eggs
…& more!
Calypso, the Bread Line & the Southside Community Farmers Market are committed to continuing this good work & need your help to do it. Please, give today to support Community Meals & keep this program growing. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover 4,000+ meals over sixteen Market weeks – 100% of the proceeds will go to purchasing local foods from local producers & the labor of creating the meals. Calypso will facilitate the purchasing & Bread Line will make the meals.
If you choose to donate, please, write a note in the comment box that you’re supporting Community Meals.
CommUNITY is the most powerful response we can have to injustice. With your donation, you will help “build a longer table” in a time of too many “higher fences.” Local generosity can keep Community Meals at the Southside Market for another season.
No matter what, we hope you’ll come see us there: every Tuesday, June-September, 4-6:30PM at 24th & Rickert!
