12 Key Moments for Community Markets Inc. in 2025
Community Markets, Inc. — 2025 Year in Review (5 min read)
For the full 2025 CMI Impact Report, visit HERE.
Because of our partners, donors, farmers, volunteers, and supporters, 2025 was a year of growth, response, and impact. Here’s a look at 12 key things that we accomplished together:
1. 🥕 Launching SNAP Extend
Through SNAP Extend, CMI helped SNAP users maximize their nutrition benefits by providing a dollar-for-dollar match of SNAP benefits used at CMI’s mobile markets, encouraging healthier purchases and keeping more grocery dollars within the local economy.
2. 🙌 Unity Campaign Success
Thanks to generous support through the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle’s Unity Campaign, CMI raised over $16,000 to launch the SNAP Extend Program to double the purchasing power of SNAP EBT users’ benefits — increasing affordability of fresh local food for food-insecure families. The 2026 Unity Campaign is scheduled for March this year.
3.👵 Second Year of Senior Vouchers
CMI’s Senior Voucher Program had a strong second year, with seniors redeeming vouchers at an 87% redemption rate at both St. Isidore Market and Magnolia Market — stretching grocery budgets and improving food access for older adults. 200 seniors in need received $50 in food vouchers through a generous grant from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation.
4. 🛒 Magnolia Market: A Successful Pilot
Magnolia Market launched in Paw Paw, WV — bringing fresh local food to a rural food desert in southwestern Morgan County. SNAP EBT acceptance and senior voucher use at the Market helped expand access throughout the season spanning from August to October.
5. 🤝 Reseller Initiative Begun
In 2025, CMI began its Reseller Initiative, allowing food pantries, convenience stores, family grocers, and restaurants to access hundreds of fresh foods from local farms at well below retail prices. Appalachian Snail Café & Market as well as Jefferson County Community Ministries among a growing list of others are current partners with CMI through the Reseller Initiative.
6. 🌄 Reaching the Coal Fields
In November 2025, CMI partnered with Shepherds Heart Food Pantry in Whitesville, WV to distribute 150+ fresh food boxes, bringing locally sourced produce, dairy, meat, and staples directly to families in need — strengthening food access in Boone County’s coalfield communities through collaboration and boots-on-the-ground support.
7. 🌧️ Emergency Disaster Relief Provided
When flooding hit Ohio County in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia during June, Community Markets Inc. mobilized a “Mobile Relief Convoy” with Saint James the Greater Roman Catholic Church, Shepherdstown Shares, and other organizations on the Eastern Panhandle to deliver over 10,000 lbs. of farm-fresh food and a box truck of supplies to food pantries and soup kitchens in Wheeling, WV, feeding thousands of flood victims. Catholic Charities of West Virginia and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston led the charge in the Northern Panhandle to ensure that the donated food reached those most in need.
8. 💙 Launching CMI’s First Memorial Fund
In December, CMI established the Judith A. de Leon Emergency Food Memorial Fund, a first of its kind, to provide immediate access to local, nourishing food for individuals and families facing personal crises — including loss, emergencies, and financial hardship — ensuring comfort, dignity, and hope when it’s needed most.
9. 👥 Bringing on Maria & Shannon Full-Time
2025 saw key growth in CMI’s team: Maria Resendiz was hired as Development Manager after six months of civil service with CMI as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member, shaping programs like SNAP Stretch and senior vouchers. Shannon Griffin was hired in July as Program Manager, taking on running CMI’s mobile markets and providing much-needed administrative & logistical support.
10. 🏢 Moving the CMI Office to Flowing Springs Professional Center in Shepherdstown
Our operational capacity grew in 2025 when CMI expanded into a larger office space at Flowing Springs Professional Center at Covenant Church in Shepherdstown — giving us room for a dedicated conference space and operational support. What began as renting one 500 sq. ft. suite grew to renting two suites, providing 1,000 sq. ft. for CMI to run operations out of.
11. 🎤 Mark’s First Paid Speaking Gig at AmeriCorps Conference
In October, CMI’s Operations Manager, Mark Peiffer, provided two breakout sessions at Volunteer West Virginia’s AmeriCorps conference in Sutton, WV — sharing CMI’s story and inspiring service through food access and community partnership.
12. 🚚 Truist Foundation & LDS Grants Expand Delivery Capacity
In 2025, CMI received a $36,000 grant from the Truist Foundation and a $25,000 grant from the Latter-Day Saints to purchase a new pickup truck — increasing CMI’s ability to connect local food to families in need. These investments strengthens CMI’s capacity to move fresh, locally grown food from farmers into food deserts and underserved communities across West Virginia.
THANK YOU FOR A STRONG & IMPACTFUL 2025!
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