The Farmer’s Market Feast held last week in London built on the success of the inaugural event in 2016, and allowed organizers to double their contribution to help feed needy families.
On Tuesday, representatives of the Laurel County Extension Office, London-Laurel County Farmer’s Market and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association presented a $2,000 check to God’s Pantry Food Bank from the proceeds of the feast.
“Last year we threw the dinner together in a couple of weeks and were still able to give $1,000 to God’s Pantry,” said extension agent Judi O’Bryan. “We had a little more time this year to prepare. We had great food, fellowship and came together to raise $2,000 for a great cause.”
About 150 tickets were sold for the feast, which was prepared by the Cattlemen’s Association in a farm can boil using vegetables grown and donated by local farmers. Many of the 40 farmers who are members of the market also were on hand to give away samples of their wares.
“We had so many organizations working smoothly together to make this a success,” said Fred King, president of the Farmer’s Market. “Corinth Church let us use their tables and chairs. The London Rotary Club gave us a $250 donation. We had a lot of fellowship going on.”
Both O’Bryan and King praised volunteers from God’s Pantry Food Bank, who helped prepare vegetables for the boil, took up tickets and helped clean up afterwards.
“We had a lot more volunteers this year which helped a great deal,” King said. “We had a whole roomful of people helping to cut and clean the vegetables, when last year it was only three or four of us.”
Mike Halligan, CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank, helped with the feast and said the $2,000 donation will allow the food bank to feed nearly 700 families for a full weekend.
Or, the money can be used to transport two semi truckloads of donated foods from national donors into the regional distribution center in London.
“We provide a variety of foods to help fight hunger and deliver hope,” he said.
The Farmer’s Market Feast in London was so successful that Halligan and King plan to help other communities served by God’s Pantry put on a similar dinner of their own.
“An event like this brings awareness to the farmer’s market, the farmers themselves and to a worthwhile charity that’s trying to help needy families right here in our area,” King said. “It shows your community is doing something with all these resources.
For more information contact Judi O’Bryan at the Laurel County Cooperative Extension office at 606-864-4167.
