Growing Wealth & Wellness in West Virginia with WV-grown Food
www.communitymarketsinc.org
March 2026 News: Unity is Community!
Happy 5th birthday, Community Markets Inc.! There’s no better way to celebrate five years of feeding our community with farm-fresh food and supporting local farmers than making a tax-deductible donation to CMI through the Unity Campaign now through March 15!
In our third year participating in United Way’s Unity Campaign, we’re raising $20,000 to honor Judith de Leon’s legacy of compassion and generosity with the Judith A. de Leon Emergency Food Memorial Fund. Every dollar donated receives a partial match from United Way – making your donation do even more good! This is the only fundraiser on the calendar for CMI that receives a match, so please be generous!
Donate Now & Unlock the Partial Match
Thank you for your support of CMI which makes healthy food accessible to families across the Eastern Panhandle and keeps vital dollars flowing back into the pockets of West Virginian farmers!
With gratitude,
Mark Peiffer, RPO
Operations Manager
Mobile: 703-789-1879
mark.peiffer@communitymarketsinc.org
Impact at a Glance
In three & a half years, Community Markets Inc. has fed 21,740 people in 12 WV counties with 229,170 lbs. of healthy & locally-sourced food and put $646,300 back into farmers‘ and small family business owners’ pockets.
In February alone, CMI fed about 290 food-insecure West Virginians with 2,700 lbs. of farm-fresh food and paid out local farmers & producers nearly $17,800!
February 2026 Highlights
Themed Markets – St. Isidore Markets in February featured themed events including a Super Bowl Market, a Valentine’s Market with local bouquets and treats, and a Lenten Market featuring a seafood sale — get on our Market email list using the link below to see what special Markets & sales are coming up!
Order Online Farm-Fresh & Affordable Groceries NOW!
SNAP Accepted at St. Isidore Market!
Double your SNAP Benefits with SNAP Extend!
Martinsburg Food Box Giveaway – THANK YOU to everyone who helped feed almost 300 people in Martinsburg in February! Huge thanks to First Presbyterian Church for hosting us and CORE along with the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation and Job Corps for partnering with us!
Welcoming Our New IT Intern – Please join us in welcoming Justice Tutt, who has joined CMI as an IT Intern through Blue Ridge Community & Technical College! Justice has already improved both the St. Isidore Market & CMI websites. We’re glad to have her join us for the next few months!
CMI Speaks at Knauf Insulation – Our team had the opportunity to present at Knauf Insulation, helping prepare for the upcoming March Food Box Giveaway (FBG) and strengthening community partnerships that boost food access! CMI is grateful to Knauf for being our first official Food Box Giveaway Sponsor of the year! Their donation of $5,500 will be used to buy farm-fresh food at a fair price from local farmers and be distributed to food insecure families on March 31st at Knauf’s plant in Inwood. Thank you for your generous partnership!
Get Involved: March at CMI!
Unity Campaign — Our Biggest Fundraiser of the Year
The Unity Campaign is officially underway, and this is the most impactful time of year to give to CMI.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 in order to match the seed money for the Judith A. de Leon Emergency Food Fund as well as support CMI’s overall mission of connecting locally grown food to families in need.
Why give during the Unity Campaign?
✔ Each dollar is partially matched by United Way, increasing your impact
✔ 100% of your donation comes back to CMI
✔ United Way covers all processing fees for online donations
✔ Corporate workplace giving participation helps unlock additional community support
The Unity Campaign is not just a fundraiser — it’s what helps stabilize CMI for the year ahead. It allows us to:
- Purchase produce and proteins from local farmers at fair prices
- Keep market prices affordable for families
- Respond quickly when a household faces food insecurity
- Expand into underserved communities
- Plan larger Food Box Giveaways with confidence
If you’ve been considering supporting CMI, now through March 15 is the time to do it!
Donate via this link or by scanning the QR code on the flyer below!
Delivery at the Market — Expanding Regional Access
St. Isidore Market continues to grow, and so does our commitment to accessibility.
Beginning this month, we plan to begin delivery in Jefferson County to:
- Charles Town
- Ranson
- Shepherdstown
This expansion helps serve seniors, families without reliable transportation, individuals with mobility limitations, and busy working parents who still want access to affordable, local food.By reducing transportation barriers, CMI is making sure geography doesn’t determine who has access to fresh food. Stay tuned at www.saintisidoremarket.com for more information.
Knauf Insulation Food Box Giveaway – March 31st!
We’ll close out the month with a large-scale Food Box Giveaway sponsored by Knauf Insulation (Tabler Station).
Their generous $5,500 sponsorship allows CMI to purchase farm-fresh food directly from local farmers and distribute it to100 families on March 31st at Knauf’s Inwood plant.Volunteer opportunities and distribution details will be announced soon – follow our facebook page to watch for more info!
Join the CMI Team as an AmeriCorps VISTA
We’re hiring! Apply today to serve your community as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member with Community Markets Inc.
Year-Long & Sumer Terms of Service available. Details & Apply Now HERE:
https://www.communitymarketsinc.org/cmi-vista-2026/
Sponsor a Food Box Giveaway in 2026.
Businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor a Community Markets Inc. Food Box Giveaway and make an immediate, meaningful impact in West Virginia communities. A single giveaway can feed hundreds of individuals and families, while directly supporting local farmers and food producers.
Food Box Giveaway sponsorships also provide an excellent corporate team-building opportunity, brand visibility at the event and online, and recognition as a supporter of food access in West Virginia. Sponsorship levels range from partial to full event support, and all donations are tax deductible.CMI is now scheduling Food Box Giveaways for 2026, beginning as early as February.
To learn more about sponsoring a giveaway, contact Maria Resendiz, Development Manager via email at maria.resendiz@communitymarketsinc.org or via phone at (304) 820-7305. See the flyer below for more details.
Volunteer with CMI in March!
New Year, New You? Discover the joy of making a positive impact on your community by volunteering with Community Markets Inc.
Email shannon.griffin@communitymarketsinc.org to get started.
Shop Local & Affordable at St. Isidore Market.
Support WV farmers while accessing fresh & healthy food all winter long. We accept SNAP EBT. Pre Order Fri-Tues HERE: www.saintisidoremarket.com
Ready to increase health and wellness for every West Virginian with West Virginian Grown Food?
Become a Monthly Donor today!
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Like Community Markets Inc., St. Isidore Market, & Magnolia Market on Facebook
Feed Hungry Families. Support our Farmers. Increase Local Food Access.