2026-06-15T14:57:46-05:00 2025-07-31 560570567 DMJPS PLLC 451 N MAIN STREET SUITE 105 MARION NC 28752 990 2024-08-01 832141213 MCDOWELL LFAC MCDO 8287488225 1930 US 70 EAST MARION NC 28752 MOLLY SANDFOSS CHAIRPERSON 8286528104 2026-06-15 1 1 APRIL WESTMORELAND CPA P01245071 8286527044 2026-06-12 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X MOLLY SANDFOSS 1930 US 70 EAST MARION NC 28752 4126151 0 X WWW.MCDOWELLLFAC.ORG X 2018 NC MCDOWELL LFAC IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO CONNECT, COORDINATE, AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN MCDOWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, INCOME AND LIVELIHOODS OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH BUILDING A COMPLETE FOOD NETWORK OF PRODUCERS, BUSINESSES, AGENCIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. LFAC DOES THIS THROUGH DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND SUPPORTIVE FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE IN MCDOWELL. 10 10 32 142 0 0 445367 802753 2251925 3310302 0 -2969 2085 3558 2699377 4113644 6253 25565 0 0 733046 772776 0 0 0 1253527 1518553 1992826 2316894 706551 1796750 2517049 4305424 13119 4744 2503930 4300680 X MCDOWELL LFAC IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO CONNECT, COORDINATE, AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN MCDOWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, INCOME AND LIVELIHOODS OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH BUILDING A COMPLETE FOOD NETWORK OF PRODUCERS, BUSINESSES, AGENCIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. LFAC DOES THIS THROUGH DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND SUPPORTIVE FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE IN MCDOWELL. 0 0 34247 18033 26493 IN 2024, MCDOWELL LOCAL FOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL, THROUGH FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB AND THE MARION TAILGATE MARKET, ADVANCED A MORE EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM FOR MCDOWELL COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION AGGREGATED AND DISTRIBUTED FOOD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NETWORK OF FARMERS, PRODUCERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERS WHILE PROMOTING HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. LFAC INVESTED NEARLY $500,000 IN LOCAL FARMS IN 2024 THROUGH LOCAL FOOD PURCHASES AND DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 16,000 HEALTHY FOOD BOXES PLUS 1,200 PRODUCE PRESCRIPTIONS TO FAMILIES ENROLLED IN THE HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH MEDICAID. LFAC ALSO COORDINATED NEARLY 9,200 INSTANCES OF ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLD FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH FOOD ACCESS AND RELIEF SERVICES AND SUPPLIED 4,600 FOOD BAGS TO OUTREACH PARTNERS SERVING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITH HIGHER BARRIERS TO FOOD ACCESS, STABLE HOUSING, AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE MARION TAILGATE MARKET GREW AS A MARKET OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL FARMS, AND INCREASED CUSTOMER ATTENDANCE BY 90% ACROSS 26 MARKET EVENTS, IN JUST THE SECOND YEAR OF LFAC OPERATING THE MARKET. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED AT LEAST 2,870 HOURS OF SERVICE TOWARDS THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION TO ENSURE HEALTHY FOOD IS ACCESSIBLE AND LOCAL FARMING IS VIABLE. PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS ALLOWED FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN CULINARY AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. 97296 20 484957 FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB: THE FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB (FFH) IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE MCDOWELL LFAC. CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETE IN NOVEMBER OF 2022. THE FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB IS LOCATED AT 263 BARNES RD IN MARION AND CONSISTS OF THREE COMPONENTS: (1) A TEACHING KITCHEN THAT WILL EVENTUALLY HOST CULINARY CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HEALTHY EATING CLASSES, AND FOOD PRESERVATION INSTRUCTION. (2) A PANTRY COMPONENT, COMPLETE WITH A LARGE FREEZER AND COOLER STORAGE, FOR BOTH SHELF STABLE AND PERISHABLE DONATED AND PURCHASED FOOD FOR ONGOING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS. (3) AN INCREASED FOCUS ON FARMER SUPPORT AND FOOD INCLUDES STORAGE AND PROCESS SHIFTS TO ENSURE MORE LOCAL FOOD ENTERS THE PANTRY SUPPORT SYSTEM. THERE WILL ALSO BE A WASH LINE AVAILABLE FOR FARMERS' USE. 1757236 0 2789579 HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES PILOT (HOP) PROGRAM: THE HOP PROGRAM IS A TRUE PILOT IN THAT ONLY 3 REGIONS IN NC PARTICIPATE AND THE 18 WESTERN NC COUNTIES AND QUALLA BOUNDARY ARE ONE OF THEM. THE MCDOWELL LFAC / FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IMPACT HEALTH AND MEDICAID, PROVIDES FRESH AND SHELF STABLE FOOD TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR VARIOUS MEDICAID PROGRAMS. DURING 2023-2024 THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN, AND WILL LATER REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SUPPORT THE WORK. PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES WERE DEVELOPED, AS WELL AS FARMER RELATIONSHIPS, TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THE HOP PROGRAM. 21537 7512 9273 NC FARMERS OF THE FOOTHILLS: FARMERS OF THE FOOTHILLS IS A COOPERATIVE GROUP OF FARMERS ORGANIZED BY MCDOWELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. THIS WAS STARTED IN 2019 WITH FARMERS INTERESTED IN JOINING TOGETHER TO PURCHASE MATERIALS, MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS AND CREATE A CSA (COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE) PROGRAM FOR MCDOWELL COUNTY. FARMERS AGREE TO PAY DUES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND SHARE THEIR PRODUCTS TO CREATE A LOCAL FOOD SHARE EACH YEAR. THIS GROUP ALSO HAS A WEBSITE THAT ALLOWS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PURCHASE LOCAL FOOD ITEMS DIRECTLY FROM FARMERS THAT ARE PART OF THE COOPERATIVE. THE MCDOWELL LFAC ACTS AS FISCAL AGENT AND SUPPORTS AND OFFERS SERVICES TO THESE MEMBERS. 21537 7512 9273 1910316 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 1 32 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 10 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X MOLLY SANDFOSS 8287488225 1930 US 70 EAST MARION NC 28752 MOLLY SANDFOSS CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 AMY STEVENS SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 PAULA SWEPSON AVERY TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 TIM KELLER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BELINDA SWEPSON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LORENA CERVANTES BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 GINGER WEBB BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRADY KELLER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREA ALLISON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 TOU LEE BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LESLIE BURLESON EXEC. DIR. 40.00 X 88812 0 534 88812 0 534 0 0 0 0 0 1000 801753 802753 HOP MEDICAID REIMBURSE 624210 3274311 3274311 MARION TAILGATE MARKET 445100 16065 16065 FOOD SALES (CSA SHARES 445100 10653 10653 NC FARMERS OF THE FOOT 445100 9273 9273 3310302 3038 3038 917 0 917 917 917 6500 12507 -6007 -6007 -6007 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 900099 2641 2641 2641 4113644 3310302 0 589 25565 25565 120496 120496 57116 57116 533012 533012 4654 4654 57498 50574 6924 14638 12120 2518 37334 37334 11402 8063 3339 639 565 74 30860 6634 24226 63530 35394 28136 404 404 4518 633 3885 103338 103338 27492 22023 5469 FOOD 1015476 990884 24592 SUPPLIES & MATERIALS 122840 106768 16072 REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE 34686 28974 5712 FUEL 19230 18758 472 32166 12829 19337 2316894 1910316 406578 0 1117525 1231551 3238167 164294 1399524 3073873 2517049 4305424 489 1997 12630 2747 13119 4744 X 2503930 4300680 2503930 4300680 2517049 4305424 1796750 0 X X 1 X 0 1 0 X 740269 1038722 961362 445367 802753 3988473 1000 336120 2251925 3310302 5899347 416 3099 200 2085 589 6389 740685 1042821 1297682 2699377 4113644 9894209 500 145 645 22000 297194 2055359 2891606 5266159 500 22145 297194 2055359 2891606 5266804 4627405 740685 1042821 1297682 2699377 4113644 9894209 0.46770 0.63080 0.00000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 186564 186564 2453276 71356 2381920 285304 24430 260874 313023 68508 244515 3073873 CREDIT CARDS PAYABLE 2747 2747 1 HISTORIC JOHNSON FARM FOUNDATION 3346 HAYWOOD RD HENDERSONVILLE NC 28789 841874209 501(C)(3) 0 8000 FMV REFRIGERATED VAN HISTORIC JOHNSON FARM WILL UTILIZE THE VAN TO DELIVER LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THAT ARE ROOTED IN FOOD, FARM, AND SUSTAINABILITY. NC FARMERS OF THE FOOTHILLS 7575 US 221 SOUTH MARION NC 20752 392409633 7512 0 CONTINUATION OF COOPERATIVE GROUP OF FARMERS ORGANIZED BY MCDOWELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 1 2 TIMOTHY BURKE FORMER VICE-CHAIRPERSON 50483 COMPENSATION UNRELATED TO POSITION OF OFFICER 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 BOARD MEMBERS BELINDA SWEPSON AND PAULA SWESPSON AVERY ARE COUSINS. BOARD MEMBERS TIM KELLER AND BRADY KELLER ARE FATHER/SON. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B A PRELIMINARY COPY OF THE RETURN IS PROVIDED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD VIA EMAIL PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 13 AND 14: THE ORGANIZATION ADOPTED A WRITTEN WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY AND A WRITTEN DOCUMENT RETENTION AND DESTRUCTION POLICY IN THE CURRENT YEAR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY ACTIVITY, TRANSACTION, OR RELATIONSHIP THAT MIGHT GIVE RISE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, EMPLOYEES MUST SEEK REVIEW FROM THEIR SUPERVISOR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 BOARD MEMBERS WILL SET THE COMPENSATION (SALARY AND BENEFITS) OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AND OTHER HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES OR CONSULTANTS) BASED ON A REVIEW OF COMPARABILITY DATA. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 ALL GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND DISCUSS HOW CONTRIBUTIONS MAY SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR ORGANIZATION. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: NO CHANGE TO OVERSIGHT OR SELECTION PROCESS FROM PRIOR YEAR. COMPILED FINACIAL STATEMENTS ARE EMAILED AND REVIEWED ON A MONTHLY BASIS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART I, LINE 6: WE CANNOT SUSTAIN OPERATIONS WITHOUT OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS. IN 2024, VOLUNTEERS DONATED A TOTAL OF 2,870 HOURS. ACCORDING TO THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR RESEARCH STUDY (VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME - INDEPENDENT SECTOR) VOLUNTEER TIME IS WORTH $36.14 PER HOUR. THAT IS A VALUE OF $103,721.80. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER WITH US PLEASE CONTACT US AT 828-748-8225 OR VOLUNTEER AT WWW.MCDOWELLLFAC.ORG.