Free Market Fridays

This Friday, July 15th, the kids from The Rec will be hosting a Free Market Friday from 4-6PM at the Luray Community gardens located next to Valley Health. Throughout the summer, Page Alliance for Community Action (PACA) has been holding Free Market Fridays at their Shenandoah and Stanley community gardens in which community members can come and pick up produce for free. Page County Public Schools has also been providing free lunches for kids 18 and under at these markets and will be present at the July 15th market as well.

This Friday’s market has been completely planned, organized, and will be run by the kids that attend The Rec and are part of the Garden, Guide, and Grow (3G) Program. They have worked to create a flier marketing the event, have contacted various local businesses to ensure support and partnerships, and have also organized a bouncy house to be at the market for children to enjoy. Along with this, two teenage artists who frequent The Rec will be giving a live performance of their music for those in attendance.

Part of the goals of this program are focused in bringing both esteemed and life skills to our local youth, and with the planning and running of the market, it is intended that the kids will improve in organizational, marketing, social, entrepreneurial, community engagement and other skills necessary for our children as they grow into well rounded adults.

“We are looking forward to getting to know the community,” said Alyssa Foltz and Eveanna Mccormick, two of the kids from The Rec helping to put the market together. “We’re doing a lot of fun and cool stuff at The Rec, and we hope that this gives people a chance to see that,” shared Emma Mendez and Haleigh Jenkins, two elementary students who attend The Rec. Mackenzie Jenkins and Natalee Beers, also part of The Rec and the 3G program, added in about the impact on the community. “We hope that people will gain more interest in The Rec because this is all about building a healthier community, and The Rec is all about building a healthier community.”

If you’re interested in supporting our local youth or even in receiving some free, fresh, local produce to take home for the weekend, just show up at the Luray Community Gardens, located at 198 Memorial Drive, between 4-6PM this Friday, and the kids will be glad to welcome and assist you!