Tag Archives: Park City Initiative

Each Sunday, purveyors at the Saugatuck Congregational Church Farmers Market bring too much produce.

They’re not poor planners.  They know that at the end of each day the unsold food will be donated to the Park City Initiative, a settlement center that provides Bridgeport residents with fresh, locally grown goods.

This Sunday (June 6), you can add to the farmers’ generosity.  And have a great time in the process.

The Interfaith Council is sponsoring an Environmental Celebration.  Part food drive, part homage to earth, part art show and concert, it’s the perfect do-good, have-fun way to kick off summer.

From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., there’s entertainment — everything from an Irish band to high school singers.

Art will range from professional photos, to drawings from churches and synagogues, to art made from recycled products by nursery schoolers.

“Meditation booklets” will describe in poetry and prayer the many ways in which religions — Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism — honor the planet.

But the key is food.  Westporters can help Westport families in need by bringing whole wheat pastas, reduced fat peanut butter, tuna packed in water, whole grain cereals without sugar, low sodium soups and brown rice — or other healthy foods.

Those goods will be given to Westport’s Department of Human Services.  Over 150 families here are in need, organizers say.

Both the farmers’ donations to Bridgeport, and market-goers’ contributions to their neighbors, are crucial.  Food pantries everywhere suffer dips each summer.

“Come!” urges Interfaith Council co-president Cece Saunders.

“Tap your feet to music and church bells.  Celebrate with us.  It’s a glorious thing.”

Planning Sunday's Farmers Market (from left): Angela Belta (Belta’s Farm), Mary Ann West (Saugatuck Church), Dolores Bacharach (Interfaith Council), Cece Saunders and Rebecca Hayward (co-chairs), Mary Attanasio, Geri Zakoff (nutritionist).