Lakeville’s Elliot Farm Is Nourishing Neighbors in Need

The fall of 2025 has been tough on many local families whose lives were drastically changed when their SNAP benefits were suspended in November.

Luckily, the SouthCoast community rallied to create ways to help their neighbors in need. For Dee Elliot and her team at Elliot Farm in Lakeville, nourishing neighbors is a top priority.

To combat food insecurity, Elliot Farm partners with another non-profit, Farm & Community Collaborative, Inc. to provide "free farm shares filled with locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and baked goods to households living below 80% of the Area Median Income."

READ MORE: Where to Find SouthCoast's Most Popular Farm Stands

About Elliot Farm and the NON Program

Their Nourish Our Neighbors (NON) program has provided 150 families with free farm shares in 2024. "Our goal for 2026 is to reach 175 families," Dee Elliot said.

Providing Families with Choice-Based Farm Shares

"Unlike traditional food assistance models, our program offers a choice-based, farm-stand shopping experience," Elliot said. "Instead of pre-packed boxes or limited selections, recipients receive a credit to shop the entire farm stand, allowing them to choose foods that match their cultural preferences, dietary needs, and family tastes."

READ MORE: Tiverton Mom's Haven Homestead Offers Food and Hope to Neighbors in Need

This gives families a sense of inclusion and empowerment.

One Heart, One Meal: Immediate Community Support

Elliot Farms' "1 Heart=1 Meal" initiative stems from the NON program, an idea that came from Farm Stand Manager Erin Morley as a response to many families losing their SNAP benefits.

“We found ourselves, and our customers feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by the chaos in Washington, and I thought, what if we instead focus on who we can help, in our immediate community, today?" Morley said.

"Elliot Farm acts as a community hub, and I’m so proud and grateful for the immense generosity and support of our community members," she said. "It’s a beautiful thing when we come together to take care of each other, it creates a ripple of hope when it feels darkest and it has an immediate impact on the folks who need it most.”

READ MORE: Westport Woman Shares Soup and Kindness Through "Buy Nothing" Group

Holiday Meal Kits: Options and How to Participate

"Erin’s idea was to create an immediate and accessible way for the community to step in and help by purchasing $25 Holiday Meal Kits, with each donation representing one family nourished," Elliot said.

Each meal kit is chock full of fresh, local ingredients. Elliot Farm offers two options for a farm-fresh dinner.

There's a Harvest Chicken Dinner with chicken, potatoes, squash, spinach and rolls

Or there is a Farmstand Pasta Supper, with pasta, sauce and salad

Impact and Fundraising Goals for 2026

"The response has been incredible," Elliot said. "Together, our visitors and supporters have raised $5,792 to go toward our 2026 Nourish Our Neighbors goal of $61,250, which will provide free farm shares to 175 local families."