Link Match Now at 26 Stores: Meeting People Where They Are
The Englewood community on Chicago’s South Side has long faced a lack of full-service grocery stores, affordable produce, and safe spaces for families to gather. That began to change with the opening of Go Green Fresh Market and the launch of Link Match for SNAP recipients.
Since opening its doors, Go Green Fresh Market has been working to fulfill its mission to provide fresh, affordable food to the community. Its partnership with Experimental Station's Link Up Illinois program—which enables SNAP recipients to purchase up to $5 per day in matching funds for fresh produce—has furthered its impact, making nutritious food more accessible than ever.
“It is the best thing to have at our store. We have customers that come in with their [SNAP], they would stack [Link Match vouchers] up. Some use them the same day, some save them up to use during holidays.”
—SALEEMA ALI, AN EMPLOYEE OF GO GREEN FRESH MARKET
The Englewood community is only one example of many communities in Illinois needing access to affordable fresh food within walking distance from their homes. In response to that, in 2017, Link Up Illinois expanded Link Match into brick-and-mortar stores. Today, Link Match is offered in 26 participating stores across the state, including in food desert neighborhoods like West Garfield Park, South Shore, Gage Park, and Bronzeville.
This expansion to brick-and-mortar stores was made to meet people where they already are—neighborhood and corner stores, grocers, and co-ops—and help them stretch their SNAP dollars while promoting healthier eating habits.
As Link Match directly boosts SNAP recipients’ buying power, it also transforms neighborhood stores with little to no produce into fresh food access points for community members and families. Therefore, the impact of Link Match extends beyond customers—also to local farmers and store owners.
In 2024 alone, more than $660,000 in Link Match incentives were used by SNAP users on fresh produce purchases in stores.
“Our produce sales have increased, and so has the energy in the store. We’ve become more than just a store—we’re a gathering place.”
—SALEEMA ALI
Staff Highlights
Raja Baptiste, Link Up Illinois’ Retail Program Manager
After spending 11 years in the corporate world, Raja Baptiste made the bold decision to leave in search of a more fulfilling path. This transition led her to collaborate with a chef, assisting in food demonstrations across Chicago's West and South Sides. During this time, she witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to healthy food in these areas.
These experiences ignited in her a new passion for helping those affected by food insecurity and health disparities. Raja became dedicated to building healthier communities through education, focusing on increasing access to nutritious food and raising awareness about the importance of healthy eating.
Her journey continued as a farmers market vendor, which provided her with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the food system. She later became an EBT Coordinator at Experimental Station for City of Chicago markets, where she worked to improve food access for customers on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Her dedication and expertise eventually led her to a position as Program Manager, where she oversaw operations at seven city EBT markets.
Currently, Raja serves as a Program Manager for Link Up Illinois’ brick-and-mortar program, continuing her mission to advance equitable food access and support communities in need.
Outside of her professional life, Raja is passionate about holistic health and meditation, dedicating her free time to learning about alternative wellness practices. She is also on an adventurous journey in 2025, visiting 12 states in 12 months in search of new experiences and opportunities for personal growth—and she’s already made it to seven!
Her commitment to service, health, and exploration continues to shape the positive impact she has on the communities she serves and the life she leads.
