2022 Recap
Hello friend,
January is a powerful time to reflect on the year before and set goals and intentions for the year to come. After two challenging years, 2022 was a big year for learning, making new connections, and strengthening existing relationships at Neighborhood Roots. We would like to take a moment to highlight some changes and celebrate successes that happened in 2022!
The Neighborhood Roots board made the tough decision to suspend the Nokomis Farmers Market (read more about that decision here) for the 2022 season to focus on fundraising and strategic planning.
The Hale Page Diamond Lake Neighborhood Association and surrounding neighbors stepped up BIG to support two pop-up fundraising markets! These markets were a huge success and raised nearly $4,000! See below for more details about the RETURN of the Nokomis Farmers Market!
We saw some staffing transitions this year, and welcomed new Development and Administrative Manager Mara Wack, Market Manager Erica Lanning, and Kingfield Market Day Staff Beth Bambery. All three hit the ground running supporting our vendors, customers, partners, and volunteers!
We had a dedicated group of volunteers who helped set-up/tear-down market tents, tables and chairs, welcomed market guests, assisted staff at the info booth.
Our small but mighty volunteer Board of Directors worked to strengthen neighborhood ties, support staff, build a new website, bring back the annual vendor appreciation breakfast, and volunteer weekly at the markets—along with many other behind-the-scenes tasks.
We supported just over 70 small businesses and farms over our 50 market days.
Between two markets, we saw record-high EBT sales, with approximately $6,000 in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) sales and $9,000 matched in Market Bucks and Produce Market Bucks thanks to our partnership with Hunger Solutions.
With Twin Cities Food Justice’s help, vendors donated over 5,800 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks.
The Kingfield Farmers Market spent its second year at its new home at Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. Park. We are grateful for this space and the connection to the green space, courts, parks, and pool. Thank you to Minneapolis Parks and Recreation for hosting us and to Inner City Tennis for providing us with a space to store our abundance of market supplies.
Fulton Farmers Market ran for its 13th season at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church. Thanks to LHUMC and Fulton Neighborhood Association for their partnership and support!
We received record-high donations of over $10,500 from community members and market patrons. You know who you are!
We need to keep this momentum as we go into the 2023 market season! Please continue to sponsor, donate, volunteer, and SHOP at the markets!
In health,
Neighborhood Roots
https://www.neighborhoodrootsmn.org/