I’m a fan of clouds. Here in Webb City we
don’t have grand mountains or spectacular sea shores, but we often have
wonderful clouds and yesterday’s were breath-taking. Case in point, I took the photo below while on a walk in King Jack Park to share that soccer practice was underway. It was only after I took the photo that I noticed the magnificent sky! Such scenes are every day occurences for us in Webb City.
Other reasons it was such a fine day – Richard
Hugh Roberts filled the pavilion with classic songs from American musicals and
movies of the 40s and 50s. The meals, both for kids and adults, were tasty, but
of course they always are.
The real fun began towards the end of market
when we began collecting produce for Feed the Heart’s distribution on Thursday
night. Because the food pantry has a walk-in cooler we can begin after
Tuesday’s market and then add more at Thursday’s market. We sent over a pickup
load of melons, sweet corn, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, and sweet peppers. (The two photos give you an idea) We’ll
add tomatoes and other goodies on Thursday’s market.
Supplying the pantry is possible because of a
grant from Empty Bowls, the fundraiser hosted by Phoenix Fired Arts. The
potters are already making bowls for this year’s fundraiser which will be held
in November.
The other market program that Empty Bowls
supports has been the WIC pilot coupon program which provided $10 worth of
fruit, vegetables, meat or eggs to WIC recipients. WIC is a government program
to improve the diet of low income expectant or new moms and children under 5.
There is a Farmers Market WIC program but in
Missouri it is only available in three counties. We are hoping our pilot
program will encourage the legislature to expand the program to more counties,
including ours.
The pilot program has been well received with
moms often telling us that fresh produce is a luxury they could not otherwise
afford. It has been so well received, in fact, that we’ve used up all the
funding in just two months and we thought we would have to suspend the program
this week until one of our volunteers gave us $100 to keep it going a while
longer. We are seeking additional funding and hopeful of receiving it, because
frankly it makes a tremendous impact. I don’t know that we’ve ever had a
program that gives more bang for the buck in terms of improving diets for some
of our most vulnerable residents.
Hopefully next week I will tell you that the
WIC program at the market is continuing.
Until then – tomorrow the Free Kids Meal is
turkey and cheese roll ups, market sweet pepper strips, cherry tomatoes and
watermelon, and milk. For adults, Stewart’s Bakery will have fried chicken
salad, fresh cut fruit salad and chef salad. The Sours will be on the market
stage.
Extension will have two booths. The nutrition
educators will serve Watermelon, Tomato and Cucumber Salad. The horticulture
specialists will give advice on gardening and landscaping.
We will also have bailing twine available for free. These artisically wrapped heavy twine were brought to the market by Dr. Conrad Gubera who saves them from his small bales of hay and wraps them together so you can pull one strand at a time. They're really rather lovely and so useful. Help yourself.
We will also have bailing twine available for free. These artisically wrapped heavy twine were brought to the market by Dr. Conrad Gubera who saves them from his small bales of hay and wraps them together so you can pull one strand at a time. They're really rather lovely and so useful. Help yourself.
On Saturday, the Free Kids Meal is breakfast
casserole, market blackberries and melon, and milk.
We welcome “new” vendors – The Sassy Salad
Gals. I put quotes around the word new because those gals are our head and
assistant cooks for the Free Kids Meal, Syerra and Kelly. The kids meals have
been exceptional and I expect the same from their new business at the market. Their
daughters will be selling for them in the market until the Kids Meals conclude
August 15. Selections include a mixed green salad with smoked chicken, croutons
and your choice of dressing for $5, fresh mixed fruit salads for $5, and fresh
fruit mocktails for $2. (Mocktails is a play on cocktails – without any
alcohol.)
The Granny Chicks will liven up the market
stage on Saturday.
Cooking for a Cause Breakfast benefits the
Friends of Camp Mintahama, the Girl Scout camp.
Tuesday, William Adkins performs and there
will be a Free Kids Meal and Stewart’s Bakery will have several supper choices.
