Growing Wealth & Wellness in West Virginia with WV-grown Food
www.communitymarketsinc.org
August 2026 News: Nutrition & Hope
Dear Friends of Community Markets Inc.,
We deliver two things every day to West Virginians: Nutrition and Hope. Nutrition because without nourishment we lack the fuel to flourish physically. Hope because without hope we lack the “fuel” to flourish mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Nutrition and hope are closely intertwined at Community Markets Inc. A box full of farm-fresh food from local farms is not just a lot of delicious nutrients, but also a sign of hope. It can lift the spirits of weary Appalachian families at the end of yet another long month when both the fridge and the bank account are empty and there are still mouths to feed at home.
Speaking of Delivery – St. Isidore Market now makes home deliveries to ALL of Jefferson County! Put in your home address at checkout and select delivery to get started! Shop Local & Affordable at CMI’s mobile markets and join us in providing nutrition and hope to West Virginia, especially the “least of these”.
Shop St. Isidore Market – Now Delivering to Jefferson County!
Shop Magnolia Market
In Collaboration,
Mark Peiffer
Operations Manager
Impact at a Glance
July Highlights
🤝 Welcome AmeriCorps VISTA Members John & Madison!
Community Markets Inc. is blessed to add two AmeriCorps VISTA Members to the CMI Team: John Meeker and Madison “Maddie” Bishop! Over the next year, John will serve as CMI”s Communications Specialist and Maddie will serve as CMI’s Local Food Access Coordinator. Partnering with WV’s Promise Youth Alliance makes this year-long service opportunity possible. Meet John and Maddie by Reading Their Bios HERE.
Be a VISTA! Want to serve your community through CMI as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member? Learn More and Apply HERE!
👋 Thank You Chris and Summer Interns!
CMI recently said goodbye to Chris Hozdic and our Summer interns, Preston, Roxann, and Sidney (not pictured).
Chris served as a major anchor for St. Isdore Market and the Local Food Access Program, and was much-loved by volunteers and fellow Team Members alike for his easy-going personality and dedication. Thank you Chris for your service to our community through AmeriCorps for close to two years! Chris has taken a full-time job in the DC area that will allow him to continue serving our community, especially the senior population.
Preston, Roxann, and Sidney spent June & July bettering Jefferson County and the surrounding region by assisting with Community Markets Inc. operations and programs. Each of them will return to school this coming Fall to continue pursing their undergraduate degree or return to work elsewhere. Thank you, Summer Interns, for your service!
📦 Nearly 500 People Fed at July’s Food Box Giveaway at BRCTC!
Beautiful weather graced July’s Food Box Giveaway at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s main campus in Martinsburg! CMI partnered with FirstEnergy and is grateful for funding from Encova Foundation; both partner organizations made the day possible!
This extraordinary collaboration brought CMI together with some regional utility companies and social service agencies to help the Eastern Panhandle’s working families struggling with rising utility bills. Each family that attended received farm-fresh & nutritious food thanks to the support of dedicated volunteers and generous funding partners – Thank you!
A special thank you to Blue Ridge Community and Technical College for hosting this event, as well as First Energy and Encova Foundation for helping make this distribution possible. Harpers Ferry Job Corps also sent a number of volunteers which made the Giveaway run much more smoothly.
🏞️CMI Visits Mid Ohio Valley!
Operations Manager Mark Peiffer recently visited The Local Collective Market, a new local food nonprofit in Sistersville, WV. This little Appalachian town sits on the Ohio River in Tyler County and lacks access to healthy & fresh food since its only grocery store closed a few years ago. Taylor Rosenlieb, founder of The Local Collective Market, has taken it upon herself to rally her community and open a year-round indoor local farm market which will feature a grocery store and community meeting space.
Community Markets Inc. in partnership with Try This West Virginia has fiscally sponsored The Local Collective Market for the past year, allowing the new organization to achieve its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Mark was grateful to have met Taylor and many community stakeholders in person for the first time, as well as learn more about the project’s growth and status.
A special Thank You to The Wells Inn in Sistersville (pictured below) which provided Mark an overnight stay free of charge upon learning his reasons for visiting. Say hi to owner Charles Winslow next time you visit Sistersville and tell him that Community Markets Inc. sent you!
🍳🍽️🥞VFW Fundraiser Breakfast Raises over $3,500!
Over 200 people stopped by VFW Post 3522 in Charles Town recently not only to enjoy a hot breakfast buffet and good company, but also in support of the food insecure families and local farmers that CMI works with. It was a lively Saturday morning buzzing with energy and a joyful atmosphere. Many VFW regulars, families, and friends to CMI collectively raised over $3,500 to support CMI’s mission! Thank you to everyone who showed their support!
🐐🧀 NEW VENDOR! WV’s 1st Grade A Goat Creamery – Shepherd’s Whey Creamery!
Giving truth to the axiom, “You can’t have just one goat . . . “ what started as a family project to have a few chickens and maybe a little goats milk for the household has grown in the past 10 years to a full herd of 18 registered purebred French Alpine does. Shepherd’s Whey Creamery successfully underwent the grueling USDA Grade A Certification process so you can be assured that their products are safe for your family. Offering classics from Chevre and Feta all the way to GoatGurt in quarts and grab-and-go smoothies!
Pre Order Shepherd’s Whey Creamery from St. Isidore Market and Magnolia Market today!
🤝 Recent Partners & Funders
Community Markets Inc. is very grateful for the recent grants and support that we’ve received from the following partners:
- United Way Eastern Panhandle – $34,761.64 for the Judith A. de Leon Emergency Food Memorial Fund & Operational Support
- VFW Post 3522 – $3,326.32 for Operational Support
- The Great Bungee Company – $1,000 for Operational Support
CMI is grateful for The Great Bungee Company’s support of WV agriculture as they get their business established in Jefferson County. Enjoy a thrill and the natural beauty of Harpers Ferry at The Great Bungee Company’s unique jump site!
How Can I Get Involved? August at CMI
💪🚗 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
💼 We’re Hiring — AmeriCorps Mobile Markets Coordinator & 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
📦 August 11 Food Box Giveaway in Paw Paw
CM is excited to partner with Starting Points again on Tuesday, August 11 to feed 120 food-insecure families in Paw Paw, WV at our next Food Box Giveaway! Details are below and on Facebook.
Please RSVP and Share this on Facebook!
🛒 Shop Local & Affordable This Summer!
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 both market websites 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
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Feed Hungry Families. Support our Farmers. Increase Local Food Access.