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The Crossroads Farmers Market in Takoma Park went out with a bang last week as shoppers, including hundreds of low-income residents, emptied the stalls on the seasonal market's closing day, and it was all thanks to area resident Rhea Yablon Kennedy.

Kennedy, who lives in nearby Takoma D.C., raised over $900 for the market's fresh checks — a program that helps lower-income residents shop at the market — by fundraising leading up to her 16-mile run in the Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 25. While the fresh checks typically give qualifying shoppers $3 to spend on produce at the market each week, Kennedy's efforts helped ensure a $5 subsidy for each of the 670 low-income families that cashed checks last week.

The number of families was so high that most vendors sold out an hour before the close of the market at 6 p.m., according to organizer Michelle Dudley.

"They weren't prepared for the increased demand," she explained. "So it was a big success and also a big challenge!"

As of Thursday, the market had collected $953 for the fresh checks, and expectations are high that Kennedy will reach her $1,000 goal once the last few donations trickle in over the next few days, Dudley said.

Kennedy, who biked the two miles from her home up to the market on Holton Lane for closing day, was very pleased with the outcome of her hard work.

"Farmers markets are a very vital part of communities, especially in urban areas," she said. "I had friends [donating] who were as far away as Maine who are never going to meet these people using the fresh checks program ... I was glad to be able to support it."