File photo of the 2020 car parade, by Stephen Ognibene.
Press Release:
Ho, ho, ho! The North Pole is buzzing with excitement because we're only 90 days away from the grandest event of the year – Bob's Christmas Car Day, hosted by Little Free Pantry Batavia! This annual celebration, where Santa spreads the magic of giving and joy, is set to light up Batavia on December 17 at First Presbyterian Church (exact time to be revealed later). Get ready, folks, because this year, we've got some North Pole surprises to share with our wonderful community.
Photo of Bob Zeagler by Howard Owens.
My trusty elves and I have been toiling day and night, ensuring that Santa's Workshop is extra special for this year's festivities. I'm telling you, the enchantment of the North Pole will be right there in Batavia, promising an unforgettable experience for all the boys and girls, big and small.
In a remarkable announcement, we're delighted to introduce our new partnership with the esteemed national organization Freedge.org. This collaboration means that all the generous folks who support our mission of bringing smiles to faces and food to tables can now enjoy the gift of tax deductions. It's a win-win for all!
Over the next 90 days, expect a flurry of updates, surprises, and thrilling news about Bob's Christmas Car Day. Make sure you've got your sleigh bells ready because it's going to be a jolly good time. Don't forget to follow us on our North Pole communication channel, our Facebook page: [https://www.facebook.com/lfpbatavia], for all the latest updates, straight from Santa himself!
Bob's Christmas Car Day, hosted by Little Free Pantry Batavia, is a testament to the incredible generosity and community spirit of Batavia during the holiday season. We're excited to share this magical day with all of you.
Despite some typical wintry weather Saturday, participants, including Patricia Hurd, above, bedecked their vehicles and took a drive through Batavia in memory of Bob Zeagler, who was the epitome of holiday spirit with his highly decorated vehicles and even himself.
After the small car parade, many families gathered inside of Batavia's First Presbyterian Church to enjoy some refreshments, a visit with Santa Claus and a special treat of a toy.
Founded by Jenn Noon and Cortney Dawson, the event organizers thanked the community, which included the church, organizations, emergency responders, Boy Scouts and various donors, including The Little Free Pantry and several local businesses, for making the event possible.
Top Photo by Howard Owens. Above from the Little Free Pantry's online post about the event.
The Little Free Pantry will be hosting a FREE Make-and-Take Baby Sunflower Station and sidewalk chalk art as part of the Pride Game Night and Royal Court Crowning at Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 11.
Make and take your own baby sunflower -- soil, seed and containers provided.
A Plant Sale by donation will also be offered. It features an assortment of potted plants and garden vegetable plants (tomatoes, peppers, cukes, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.)
Express your Pride with sidewalk chalk art, supplies will be provided to decorate the sidewalk in front of the church on Main Street.
The Presbyterian church is having a fun evening of ice cream (Ice Cream and Chill Truck), outdoor games, board games and a Royal Court Competition to celebrate Pride Month. The Royal Court Competition begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to all genders and ages. The competition is judged and the best costume and dance moves, the theme is DISCO.
Call-To-Action: The Little Free Pantry is looking for people to lend a hand to finish planting the community garden at Ryan’s Rose Organic Farm, and to visit our by-donation Plant Sale to help fund our Spring outreach projects.
The harvest will be used to supply the Pantry with farm-to-pantry produce all summer long.
Special thanks to the volunteers who helped plant last week, a lot got accomplished. We still have some things that need to get into the soil at the Farm.
Come join us to get the remaining crops, seeds, and baby pumpkins planted, and check out our Plant Sale, offering baby sunflowers, veggie plants, and flowering plants. Donations of plants are welcome and appreciated.
The event is happening at the Ryan's Rose Organic Farm, 3417 Rose Road, Batavia, on Saturday, May 29th. Two sessions are planned, 10 a.m. till 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 till 5 p.m.
The Little Free Pantry could use your help in our fight against food insecurity in our neighborhoods! Once again, we will be planting a community garden to grow farm fresh produce for the Little Free Pantry in Batavia this summer.
Thanks to the generosity of Tom Ryan of Ryan's Rose Organic Farm and Blue Pearl Yoga, we have a plot the size of a football field to grow nutritious veggies to help ease food insecurity in our neighborhoods.
Please consider joining us for the Big Planting on Sunday, May 23 (Rain Date: Sunday, May 30) and help us plant the seeds and plants that will turn into free farm fresh organic produce for those in need in our community this summer.
The organic farm and community garden plot is located at 3417 Rose Road in Batavia.
We have two time slots available: 10 a.m. to noon, or 3 to 5 p.m. We hope to see you there!
The Pantry will also be hosting a plant sale and open house at the Farm on May 23 (Rain Date: May 30) from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Donations of plants welcome and can be dropped off at 124 State St. prior to sale, or bring them with you to the Plant Sale at the Farm.
Batavia’s Little Free Pantry on Washington Avenue is teaming up with Applebee’s on Wednesday, March 17th to help support those in need.
T.L. Cannon Applebee’s will donate 15 percent of your online order tomorrow to The Little Free Pantry when you order from www.applebees.com. You must register or have an account and enter the code DOINGOOD. This donation/promo code is for “carside to go” or “pick-up orders” only.
The mini pantry movement is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to provide immediate and local aid to those with food insecurity. Whether you have a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help neighbors feed neighbors and nourish the community as a whole.
The pantry and fridge are located at 180 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia and it is open 24 hours a day all year. Daily updates about food and other items that are available are updated to the Facebook page daily.
If you would like to donate, please leave donations on the porch at 124 State St., or in the donation bin next to the food pantry in front of the dentist’s office on Washington.
