From fresh veggies, to preserves and baked goods, there were a wide variety of goods for sale at the Farmers Market for Charity on Saturday morning. Members of the Yara Community Gardens donated all of the food, with half of the proceeds going back to the gardens, 25 per cent to Hunger in Moose Jaw’s nutrition program, and 25 per cent to Riverside Mission. Buskers provided music throughout the morning. There were also raffles and coffee donated from some of Moose Jaw’s local businesses.
The Farmers Market for Charity is hosted by the community gardens twice a year. August’s event raised $3,400—a big leap from the $800 raised in the first fundraiser they put on five years ago.
“Last time was the most we’ve ever made, so we’re pretty excited about this one today,” said the community gardens program coordinator Sarah Varey. She added that the new goal is to raise $6,000.
“We do it to increase food security in the city, to connect us to different worthy charities throughout the city, and to build the neighborhood and build the community—because we need to care about people outside of the garden gate too,” Varey explained. “And, because it’s a lot of fun. Everybody really loves it.”
For more on this story read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
