December 2025 News: Finishing Strongly!

Dear Friends of Community Markets Inc.,

In this busy final month of the year, please remember the underserved families in our community who may not have enough to eat this Christmas. Also, thank and support our farmers and local food producers who ensure that healthy and affordable food is grown in our community. Here are two easy ways to do both of these things at once:

Support Community Markets Inc. on Giving Tuesday and in your Year-End Giving. Donate Today as we keep feeding the hungry right through the winter and all of 2026.

Shop Local & Affordable this Christmas at the St. Isidore Market Dec 4th, 11th, and especially at the special Christmas Market on December 18th. Pre Order Now.

Thank you, reader, for your support of CMI in 2025. There’s much left to do in 2026. Your support is essential and much appreciated!

In partnership,

Mark Peiffer, RPO

Operations Manager

Mobile: 703-789-1879

mark.peiffer@communitymarketsinc.org

Impact at a Glance

In three years, Community Markets Inc. has fed over 19,800 people in 12 WV counties with 208,800 lbs. of healthy & locally-sourced food and put $571,400 back into farmers‘ and small family business owners’ pockets.

In November 2025 alone, CMI fed over 2,430 people with nearly 11,000 lbs. of fresh & healthy locally-sourced food and put nearly $34,000 back into local farmers’ & food entrepreneurs’ pockets!

November 2025 Highlights

CMI in the Coal Fields. November began with a Food Box Giveaway in Whitesville with Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry in Boone County, WV, down in the coal fields south of Charleston! Over 180 families received fresh & local food at a critical time when the federal shutdown persisted and SNAP users were out of funds.

CMI in the Mountains. November’s second Food Box Giveaway was at the Mountain Lake Club in Shannondale, Jefferson County, WV. Many volunteers came out to ensure that 150 underserved families were fed for Thanksgiving just as the federal government was reopening and SNAP benefits getting back out to SNAP users’ pockets.

CMI on the Radio. Rob Mario was kind enough to invite Mark onto his talk radio show to discuss local food, CMI, and SNAP among other things. View the full segment HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwX_ATcGK-s&t=1s

Magnolia Market Recap Video. Enjoy this video released recently recapping the pilot year of Magnolia Market in Paw Paw, WV HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-bOvGXqzFw!

CMI In the Community

Thank You Rotary Club of Shepherdstown for donating $1,000 to Community Markets Inc. and inviting Shannon to speak at a recent meeting! We appreciate your partnership and support!

Thank you to The Baltimore Life Companies for the $500 grant to support CMI’s Food Box Giveaway Program! Strong partnerships allow our community to be nourished with healthy, WV-grown food! This is the 2nd grant that CMI has received from Baltimore Life.

Mark was blessed to be a guest speaker at Harpers Ferry Job Corps’ graduation ceremony. THANK YOU Shawn Miller, Center Director (left), and Gwen Gaither Center #2 In Command (center) for partnering with CMI for over three years including often sending students to volunteer at Food Box Giveaways! Read The Journal’s coverage of the graduation ceremony HERE.

UPCOMING: December at Community Markets Inc.

Year End Giving with CMI! Please support our community’s food insecure families and local farmers this December with a Year End Donation to Community Markets Inc.! Help us raise $15,000 heading into 2026 as we continue to nourish our community through the winter and into the new year! Any amount is helpful – large and small. Thank you for your generous support!

www.communitymarketsinc.org/donate

Giving Tuesday at CMI. Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW! Please remember CMI and help us reach our $15,000 goal! Community Markets Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are fully tax deductible.

Give Now!

Christmas is fast approaching! Think Local & Affordable this Christmas at the St. Isidore Market! Local hams, gifts, egg nog, pies, cranberry jam, and so much more!

Pre order NOW through tomorrow at noon for pick up at this week’s Market on Thursday, December 4th. There’s also a Market on December 11th and the special Christmas Market on December 18th. More info and RSVP on Facebook HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FSuZFu9zH/

Upcoming Food Box Giveaways:

December 16th Paw Paw Details & RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/share/17T2kWiCGX/

December 19th Martinsburg Details & RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/share/1SLChMx7HS/

January 10, 2026 Charles Town Details TBA!

Additional dates and locations TBA soon!

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.

Community Markets Inc. (“CMI”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Shepherdstown, WV whose mission is to connect locally grown food to families in need.