Growing Wealth & Wellness in West Virginia with WV-grown Food
www.communitymarketsinc.org
October 2026 News: Community Is Key!
Dear Friends of Community Markets Inc.,
September saw a huge outpouring of support for WV farmers and food insecure families through WISH (Women Investing In Shepherd), a giving circle sponsored by Shepherd University Foundation. I am so grateful for the generosity of these women and also to have shared the stage at the awards event with another community partner, Audrey Morris and the team at Starting Points of Morgan County. Where collaboration exists, like between CMI, WISH, and Starting Points, the community’s generosity goes further to aid those in need. Community is key to growing healthy & thriving communities around the Mountain State.
Get involved at CMI this October in a few easy ways:
Sign Up for Cooper Farms Fall CSA! Sign up by EOD Sunday, October 4 to get your weekly produce box! Use This FORM to learn more and sign up. Contact Us to learn how to pay for your CSA with card!
Shop St. Isidore Market – Now Delivering to ALL Jefferson County! Put in your home address at checkout and select delivery to get started! Don’t miss the Harvest Party on Oct 1 at St. Isidore Market!
Shop Magnolia Market – Fridays 4:30-7:00 pm in Paw Paw, WV. October is the final month that Magnolia Market is running weekly.
Attend the CMI Fundraiser Oct 24 – Succulent Garden in Charles Town is having a Bingo Night on Saturday, Oct 24 with the proceeds benefitting Community Markets Inc. Stay tuned for more info!
With Gratitude,
Mark Peiffer
Operations Manager
Impact at a Glance
September Highlights
St. Isidore Market Now Delivers to all of Jefferson County!
Local food is now just a doorstep away for families across Jefferson County, as CMI’s online marketplace adds countywide home delivery
With this new delivery option, shoppers anywhere in Jefferson County can place a weekly online order and choose a delivery window on either Thursday or Friday to have fresh, locally grown groceries brought straight to their door.
Visit saintisidoremarket.com and select “Delivery” at checkout to place your first delivery order. With hundreds of locally-sourced and affordable groceries available, it’s the most convenient way to buy locally!
CMI attends WISH Award Night Celebration!
Community Markets Inc. is honored to have been selected as a grant recipient by Shepherd University Foundation’s WISH (Women Investing in Shepherd) giving circle!
Our indispensable partner Morgan County Starting Points was the other Community recipient. WISH selects two community projects and two University projects each year.
WISH granted CMI in excess of $36,625 towards the purchase of a new refrigerated van to expand our Mobile Market and Delivery programs.
It was a great night for food security and community development and an honor to represent WV’s farmers and local food community to this group of extraordinary women!
Photos by Boonsboro Photographer Sam Levitan
CMI welcomes AmeriCorps VISTA IT Specialist George Parris!
George Parris, AmeriCorps VISTA IT Specialist at Community Markets Inc., is serving a year-long term of service through West Virginia’s Promise Youth Alliance. Originally from Silver Spring Maryland, George moved to the Charles Town area during COVID-19 to be closer to family and to earn his Associates Degree in Cybersecurity through Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. George continues to work in IT – following in his fathers footsteps of working in IT for nearly forty years. Some of George’s hobbies include riding his bike and camping. George is excited to be working back at CMI after completing an internship at CMI in the spring of 2025 and to continue the process of providing local farmers the chance to bring their food to the community.
Help us welcome George to the CMI Team! We appreciate you serving our community for the next year as an AmeriCorps VISTA!
CMI Fundraiser at Panera Bread Raises over $200!
CMI had a lovely day at Panera Bread in Ranson last month. With your help, we raised over $200 and had many engaged and fruitful conversations with community members about our programs and their impact – and how we can all do better to promote local and healthy food in our region.
Thank you, Panera Bread, for allowing us to join you for the day and to everyone who came out to say hi and show their support!
September Food Box Giveaways, Including Day of Caring, Feeds over 1,000 People!
The Community came out strong to volunteer in September for United Way’s Day of Caring in Ranson and Trinity Temple Church of God’s Health Fair in Martinsburg. Through both Food Box Giveaways, CMI provided nearly 6 tons of food to well over 1,000 people in need; all of the food fresh and locally-sourced. In partnership with the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle and the City of Ranson, our Day of Caring event included volunteers from Jefferson Security Bank, Bowles Rice LLP, West Virginia American Water, FirstEnergy, Martinsburg Sunrise/Sunset Rotary Club, and UAW Local 1590. Lunch for our Volunteers was sponsored by Panera Bread, Domino’s Pizza, and Roy Rogers.
The United Way Day of Caring Food Box Giveaway was all the more special as it marked four years of programming at Community Markets Inc.!
Thank you for nourishing our community with Community Markets Inc.!
Recent Partners & Funders
Community Markets Inc. is very grateful for the recent grants and support that we’ve received from the following partners:
- First Energy Foundation – $50,000 for the Food Box Giveaway Program.
- Bernard McDonough Foundation – $15,000 for Operational Support.
- Trinity Temple Church of God – $500 for the Food Box Giveaway Program.
- Anonymous “Road Trip Givers” – $250 for Operational Support.
Thank you, Trinity Temple Church of God, for your partnership & recent donation!
How Can I Get Involved? October at CMI
Harvest Party Tonight, Oct. 1 5:00-6:30 pm!
Join us for a festive night celebrating Harvest Time and our volunteers! Harvest Time is traditionally a time of celebration in the farming community, as the harvest’s bounty is enjoyed. As we celebrate harvest, we celebrate the farmers who work hard every day to bring their products to our market, to feed our families, and increase food access in our communities. We also are thanking our volunteers who show up so often and assist in keeping our community nourished. We will be showcasing Autumn finds from Crestview Meat Market, Farmhouse Kitchen, and Shepherd’s Whey Creamery. We are delighted Cooper Farms will be able to join us in person, as well as a new vendor, Sticky Lips Cotton Candy!
Bring your family out for a night of free food, live music, more vendors, children’s activities, cornhole, door prizes, and more!
RSVP and Share this event on Facebook.
Fall CSA Signup Extended through Sunday!
You didn’t miss it – but you better hurry!! We’re keeping registration open through Sunday, October 4th at 11:59pm, so you still have a chance at this unique opportunity at a constant weekly stream of fresh Eastern Panhandle produce beginning the first week in October through December until the New Year!
Check and Cash customers sign up Here!
Credit and Debit sign ups go Here!
SAVE THE DATE! October 24 – CMI with Succulent Garden!
Join Community Markets Inc. at Succulent Garden’s Bingo Night in Charles Town! Proceeds will benefit CMI’s programs. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information!
CMI is Hiring — AmeriCorps Mobile Markets Coordinator & Part-Time Drivers!
Join the CMI Team as the following: part-time Truck & Trailer Driver & full-time year-long Mobile Markets Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA Member.
Learn More and Apply Today! Visit CMI’s Careers Page
Volunteers Needed!
Need a meaningful way to give back? Volunteer with Community Markets Inc.! Help is needed at our Mobile Markets, at Food Box Giveaways, in the office, and on the road making home deliveries and farm pick ups.
Learn More and sign up to help by Visiting Our Volunteer Page
October Food Box Giveaways: Shepherdstown and Boone County
September will be a busy month for our Food Box Giveaway program, with 150 families being fed in Shepherdstown on October 3rd!
October 3rd – Asbury UMC, Shepherdstown, WV
Please RSVP and Share this on Facebook
CMI on the Road to Boone County!
One of Community Markets Inc.’s refrigerated trailers is heading back to Boone County for a Food Box Giveaway collaboration with our friends at Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry in Whitesville, WV providing Fresh and Local West Virginian food for 150 families on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 11am to 1 pm while supplies last.
Keep your Family Fed, the Fresh and Local Way!
St. Isidore Market and Magnolia Market both offer convenient online ordering with hundreds of locally-grown produce, meats, ice cream, dairy, baked goods, and pantry items to choose from!
Visit either market website using the links above to see the latest products and vendors, then place your pre order from Fridays to Tuesdays at noon for pick up later in the week!
St. Isidore Market Home Delivery is Now Serving All of Jefferson County!
Did You Know? Your St. Isidore Market Pre Order can now be delivered to your home on Thursday night or Friday if you live in Jefferson County! Select the Delivery option at checkout to get started!
Live towards Inwood or Middleway? Have your Pre Order delivered to our Drop Point at Priest Field for easy pick up on Thursday evenings! Select the Priest Field Drop Point at checkout to get started!
Order Local & Affordable Groceries Now:
St. Isidore Market
Magnolia Market
Ready to increase health and wellness for every West Virginian with West Virginian Grown Food?
Become a Monthly Donor today!
Donate
Like Community Markets Inc., St. Isidore Market, & Magnolia Market on Facebook.
Feed Hungry Families. Support our Farmers. Increase Local Food Access.