Seasonal
Help Us Kick Off An Exciting New Project By Contributing To The Giving Garden
by Nancy O'Connor, CMEF Executive Director
Community Mercantile Education Foundation (CMEF) is this month's Spare Change Jar recipient and the timing couldn't be better. We just received the go-ahead to proceed with a garden project at our neighboring West Junior High. Our shovels will hit the ground this month as we prepare to build a fine garden that will be staffed by students from West. The multifaceted project will include job training, mentoring, selling produce grown in the garden during the summer, and using garden produce in the cafeteria in the fall. There will be lots of education and curriculum integration, and what we expect will be a beautiful, bountiful garden.
And you can help make this dream a reality. During the month of March we will have a large "Giving Garden" up on the front window of the Merc. Next to the empty garden plot will be "seed packets" each with the name of an item we need for the garden. You choose an item you're willing to buy to support the project, put your name on the seed packet and move it into the garden. Then you buy your hoe, or rake, or hose and bring it to the Merc to be used to turn this dream into a reality.
You can also place your spare change in the collection jars, or make a donation directly to CMEF. Your dollars will help get teens excited about local food. In addition to our new ambitious program at West, CMEF once again will be providing lunches for at risk youth through our summer Locally Grown JAMS program, now in its seventh year. We cannot do this work with your help and support.
Watch for more information in the store.
P.A.T.H. - Personal Actions To Health begins in March
The PATH, "Personal Actions To Health," program for individuals ages
55 and up will run March 23 through April 29, at the East Lawrence Recreation Center. This six-week course will be held from 9-11am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. PATH is organized by a planning team of community organizations. The Merc has been a supporter for years. For more information on this program, see page 5 of the Merc News.
March Cooking Classes Feature Many International Cuisines
To see the complete class schedule, please click here
Some of the featured articles in the March Merc News include...
- Get Involved - Run for the Board by Aron Cromwell, board member (page 4)
- How Local Food Production Benefits Low Income People by Bob Lominska, Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance (page 6)
- Fairly Traded Awava Products Company Founded by KU Grad (page 8)
- Free knife sharpening at Meet, Greet & Eat on March 13 (page 13)
Meet, Greet & Eat
One Saturday each month we invite local producers into the store so you can meet the friendly faces behind some of our great local products. The Merc is proud to be the Lawrence leader in local. Everyday you'll find over 600 local products on our shelves. Stop in and make a connection between your food and the people who produce it.
Need a gift idea?
Give a gift of good taste with a Merc Gift Card or Merc Cooking Class Gift Certificate. Our cashiers at the Customer Service Desk will be happy to help you.
