As we come closer to Thanksgiving, I’d like to send a huge thank you to everyone who helped us create a successful 14th season of the Wakefield Farmers Market, a local non-profit focused on bringing healthy food and a pleasant gathering spot for all community members.
Thank you to Patricia Bearse, our new market day coordinator who has allowed me to have a little bit of a life during the summer and not have to worry when I wasn't there.
An extra special thank you goes to our Wakefield Farmers Market Board of Directors and Volunteer Team members who helped with everything from setting up in the morning, breaking down at the end of the day, staffing the manager tent table, handling the EBT details, fundraising, gathering sponsorships and all those little behind the scenes details that keep us going. Kelli Stromski, our President and original co-founder of the WFM for keeping us on track, securing sponsorship to fund our SNAP match program, that has put hundreds of dollars of extra food on the tables of the elderly, veterans and families experiencing food insecurities. Paula Bucciero, our rock star Treasurer and volunteer who has given countless hours of her personal time to make sure we are being responsible with our funds. Debbie Gronback, our Vice President and volunteer who keeps us on track. It should be noted that Paula and Debbie rarely miss a late volunteer shift at the SNAP table and their contributions on becoming more efficient have saved us time, money and are a true pleasure to work with. Janice Williamson, our Secretary, and volunteer. Janice keeps us focused on the task at hand, takes great notes and makes it easier for me to breathe a sigh of relief knowing she’s working the SNAP table on those busy summer mornings that are beach days, not volunteer days to many.
To our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to have a market without you and this year as we struggled to find help, you were there when we needed you most.
To my husband, Brian Gallivan, thank you for waking up at 5 am every Saturday morning to put out the parking cones, making it easier for our vendors with extremely heavy coolers and products. Thank you for setting up and breaking down more tents than I can count, being my sounding board for ideas and when conflict arises and I need an honest opinion.
Thank you to Robin Greenberg, who is the master of Saturday morning setup. We rarely have to worry about a thing when we have Robin volunteering for us. I know that all the cones will be returned, the tents will be in the right place and if small conflicts arise, she can handle it no problem.
Thank you to Pamela Anderson, Dianna Boothe & Erin Cook who have given their time many Saturday mornings and always keep me laughing. The Stromski Family, who have bailed us out of many a breakdown jam. We could not have done any of it without any of you.
Thank you, Heather Tribe, for her invoicing skills and keeping me on track.
We are tremendously grateful for our sponsors. Thank you to the Wakefield Food Pantry for their generous sponsorship of our SNAP Match program. Without their generous donation, this program would have been canceled and many families, elderly and veteran community members would have suffered the loss of fresh produce, fish and other nutritious food.
I would like to give a special thanks to The Savings Bank for sponsoring our music tent once again this year, making it possible for us to support local musicians. The UPS Store of Wakefield for helping us purchase a few new tents. JLB Plumbing and Mechanical for their donation of our new bluetooth speaker and the Wakefield Cooperative Bank for being this year’s Harvest sponsor.
A thank you also goes to the Wakefield Daily Item, which has always been important to our market’s success. Thank you, Bob Burgess, for all your support.
A big thank you to our Board of Health for their support in allowing us to move forward with the market, but also all the work behind vetting and granting permits to all our food vendors. Thanks to Town Administrator Steve Maio and Executive Secretary Sherri Dalton for their ongoing support, Dennis Fazio and the DPW for keeping Hall Park always tidy, to our Town Council for granting the contract for use of Hall Park and the licenses for wine sales and again, allowing us to be the essential service, as we are listed. And to the WMGLD who are not only gracious neighbors but supplied us with additional outlets and a bi-weekly visit that has made them an important member of our market season.
Coming up, we have our next Outdoor Winter Market Day at Hall Park on December 10, from 10 am to 1pm. You will find many of our favorite vendors there, so be sure to stop by. Our November 19 Market was an unbelievable success and we look forward to offering you this second outdoor shopping experience before the Holidays.
Thank you to our farmers, small batch producers and artisan vendors without them and their locally harvested or made products, there would be no market.
Lastly, thank you to our customers and the community of Wakefield, each of you play an important part in the market’s success and have allowed us to create a community that is both welcoming and brings a smile to many faces.
Happy Thanksgiving to all,
AnnMarie Gallivan
Market Manager
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