• Rotary Year: 2017-2018
  • Application Date: 5/31/2017
  • Club Name: Staunton-Augusta County
  • Project Name: West End Farmers Market
  • Project Total Expenditures: $1,250.00
  • Grant Amount Requested: $625.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: The Staunton-Augusta Rotary Club is starting a Farmers Market on the west side of Staunton. It will be located in a vacant parking lot. There are currently three other farmers markets operating in the Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro area however these markets operate during work hours or a Saturday. They are also not convenient to residents on the western side of the county/city. There is a large need to accessibility. This market will be open on Thursday from 4-7pm starting this July through early October. In the future, this market will open mid-April/early May.

    The market will be friendly to EBT users as well. Our main objective is to provide an opportunity for those residents on the west end of the city/county to get fresh, local produce. Due to businesses closing on this end of town, the west end of Staunton needs revitalization and the farmers market will also help drive some economic growth.
  • This is the Club’s: Primary Project Application
  • Expected Start Date: 7/13/2017
  • Expected End Date: 10/19/2017
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 1000
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: This area of Staunton has been deemed a food desert, which means the accessibility to fresh produce/meat is limited to non-existent. Many residents on the western side of the city and county work during the week which means they are unable to get to the farmers market that operates in Verona (which is 10 miles away). The other close market is only open on Saturday and located in the middle of downtown. This market is not convenient to many residents and caters to a higher income.
    By opening a farmers market on this end of town from 4-7pm on a Thursday, it will allow many residents to shop local and get fresh produce. The market will be easy to get to from the bypass around Staunton and many residents will be able to walk to the location. We will have a EBT card reader as well which will allow those residents to also shop for fresh produce/meat. We plan to host cooking events to show how to use in-season produce to easily create easy meals at home. There has been a push to bring more businesses into this area as it is an older part of town and we hope that by bringing a vibrant farmers market to the area will help increase some economic business as well.
  • Estimated Total Project Volunteer Hours: 175
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): Rotarians will be the market managers. We will have two Rotarians at the market each week from 3:30-7:30pm. They will be responsible for collecting money from the vendors, checking to ensue vendors follow guidelines and assist as needed. Our club will be promoting and advertising the market as well. The Rotarians on-site during the market will also be responsible for operating the EBT machine We will be collecting any trash and ensuring the venue is kept clean.
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: 
    We are planning to have banners and signs at the entrance and at the market that will have the Farmers Market information as well as the Rotary emblem and our club name. We will also have a booth setup that will have our Rotary information that we can promote Rotary.
    We are hoping to get a local radio station to be there one week to help promote the excitement of the farmers market, which will be a great way to talk about Rotary's involvement and what Rotary is. Each week the Rotarians on-site will be wearing Rotary shirts!

    We will be putting ads in the newspaper which will also state the Staunton-Augusta Rotary Club's involvement and include the Rotary emblem.
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: None
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: 2 or 3 Banners - $150
    4 Small Yard signs - $75
    1 Sidewalk Board $200
    Newspaper Ad - $200
    2 Garbage Cans - $150
    1000 Wooden Tokens (these will be used for the EBT/WIC cards). - $250
    3 Tables - $225
    Total Budget - $1,250
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: Requested District Grant Amount - $625
    Club Funds - $625
  • Primary Contact Name: Elizabeth Hewitt
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: President Elect
  • Primary Contact Email: elizabeth.hewitt42@gmail.com
  • Primary Contact Phone: 540-490-0286
  • Financial Contact Name: Donald Steger
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: Treasurer
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    PO Box 2006
    Staunton, VA 24402
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: dsteger@stegercpa.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 540-886-2154
  • District Grant Project Authorization LetterDistrict Grant letter.pdf
  • Grant Number: 1718-23
  • Grant Award: $625.00