The Lawrence Farmers Market is offering anyone in need a $25 credit to spend on protein.
As of the Nov. 8 market, anyone in need — with or without SNAP benefits or an EBT card — can go to the Market Info Booth to receive $25 worth of Double Up Protein Bucks, tokens used to buy eligible proteins from vendors.
Here are some of the eligible proteins shoppers can use protein bucks on, according to the market’s Instagram:
- Chicken, duck and quail eggs from 10+ vendors
- Local meats including beef, bison, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb and goat
- Additional protein sources including pecans, dried beans, falafel, hummus, cheese, bee pollen and protein balls from 20+ vendors
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The Lawrence Farmers Market runs a Double Up Food Bucks program that matches up to $25 in SNAP dollars for shoppers to buy produce.
Last year, the market introduced a second Double Up-style program for protein, including eggs, meats, milk, falafel, hummus and more. Both programs working in tandem can turn $25 into $75 worth of fruits, vegetables and protein for SNAP recipients.
Due to the program’s success, the market overspent its protein bucks budget this year and temporarily suspended token distribution in September. In response to the impending SNAP crisis, the organization launched a fundraising campaign that allowed it to revive the program this month.
Their initial goal was to amass $4,000. Emily Lysen, director of development for the market, said that as of Friday, the community has raised more than $10,500 for protein dollars.
After expanding the protein bucks program to anyone in need, the market gave out $575 in Double Up Protein Bucks to 23 SNAP recipients and $275 to 17 people in need at the Nov. 8 market, Lysen said.
Protein bucks for all, as well as SNAP-matching benefits, will be available at the remaining 2025 Lawrence Farmers Market days.
The market is open from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 22 in the parking lot at 824 New Hampshire St.
All tokens must be spent by the Holiday Farmers Market, set for Saturday, Dec. 13.
People can go to this link to donate to the protein bucks fund.
Note: This post has been corrected from a previous version.
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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at wulfe@lawrencekstimes.com.
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