Press release:
Summer will be a happening place at YWCA, with the start of this year's Market at North Street and the unveiling of its exciting new Summer Adventure Program for children!
The Market at North Street is ready to go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday, June 23, with 15 vendors selling everything from maple syrup and tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn and strawberries to flowers, cheese, organic beef, farm fresh eggs, alpaca goods, wines, a variety of meats, artisan-crafted gifts, sweet baked goods, dried herbs, cheese and breads.
Each week will feature seasonal produce and something tempting to buy and eat right on the spot! Clor's will have grilled sausage and peppers, hotdogs and stuffed flatbread and will have assorted meats for purchase.
You may also want to relax for awhile and take in the sights and sounds of belly dancers, musicians and other live entertainment.
Market hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Sept. 29. SNAP and EBT accepted.
"Stop by to visit and get a head start on your weekly grocery needs. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet our local farmers and talk with them face to face about the products they grow and sell. That's something you can't do when you buy it off a shelf," says Market Manager Myra Schroeder.
"Agriculture is a big part of life in Western New York, and we are fortunate enough to have so many people willing to share their passion for healthy, fresh, organic foods with the rest of us."
The YWCA is also a pick-up site for Porter Farms' Community Supported Agriculture program. Participants get a bag full of organic produce each week for 22 weeks. The Porter family has graciously offered that for every 15 people the YW gets through its facility, Porter Farms will donate one free bag for a family in need.
What: Scholarships & Strawberries at YWCA
When: Starting June 23
Where: 301 North St., Batavia
Call: (585) 343-5808
Also, for those who haven't heard about the YW's updated Summer Adventure Program, it offers kids opportunities for outdoor enrichment activities in the YW's six-acre back yard and field trips to Genesee County parks, planetariums and other fun places.
They'll also get to hone their culinary skills in the facility's commercial-grade kitchen and explore their green thumbs in the children's garden.
All of it is to teach teamwork, create motivation for learning and, most importantly, give kids a chance to have fun while exploring new things with their peers! But not everyone gets to join in on the fun, Executive Director Jeanne Walton said.
"Sadly, there are many families in our program who will not be able to afford the field trips, and their children will be left out as a result," Walton said. "We are seeking the support of the community to establish a scholarship fund, so that we can help more kids to be part of the full program."
A donation of $250 will allow one child to take advantage of 10 field trips offered during the Summer Program.
Your tax-deductible donation of any amount will go toward the Summer Program Scholarship Fund to ensure that every child may participate. Children may be signed up for a half-day up to five full days each week, depending on family needs.
For more information about these programs, call (585) 343-5808.
