The Donation Station initiative aims to bridge the gap between local agriculture and neighbors facing food insecurity by collecting and distributing high-quality, locally grown produce while also reducing food waste.

The idea is simple: 

  • We receive food, backyard produce, and monetary donations at the market each week.
  • We reinvest donated funds with our local farmers, buying healthy, local produce to share with those facing food insecurity. 
  • We collect unsold produce from farmers that won’t hold until the next market so that it doesn’t go to waste. 
  • We distribute the fruits and veggies that we purchase, along with donated produce and whole foods from farmers and community members, to our food access partners, who haul the produce to their location to share with friends and neighbors in need.

The Donation Station is an amazing and unique program working for long-term resilience by working with the quadruple bottom line, supporting this region’s people, economy, and cultural traditions, while also knowing that we’re all rooted in and dependent on the health of the environment. 

The Tuscarawas County Donation Station was originally launched as an initiative by the non-profit organization Rural Action, in partnership with Community Food Initiatives and the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market. A loss of funding in 2025 led Rural Action to close its Tuscarawas County office, at which point the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market transitioned to full management of the program.

“The Donation Station is about more than just food; it’s about strengthening the local food system,” says Isaac Hans Kneuss, committee chair for the Donation Station. “By purchasing directly from our local farmers and delivering that nutrition to local food pantries, we ensure that everyone in our community has a seat at the table.”

Local food pantries or soup kitchens interested in participating in the Donation Station are encouraged to contact kneussih@gmail.com for more information. Community members interested in volunteering, donating, or learning more about the program are also encouraged to reach out.

Thank you to our 2026 Season corporate sponsor, Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union.