By Rebecca Flannery
Reporter
Farm-fresh vegetables, “happy” meats and live music will drown out your pre-finals blues at this season’s Farm Day and Ride For Relief event at the World Hunger Relief Farm.
World Hunger Relief Inc. is holding its biannual Farm Day starting at 9 a.m. Saturday on its site in Waco. The day, ending around 3 p.m., will include events such as live music performances from local bands, as well as vendors from shops all around Waco. There will also be a 5k bike ride starting at 8:30 a.m.
“We were really pleased to have a record-breaking 24 vendors last fall. Hopefully we’ll have 30 this year,” said Jenni Harris, training manager for the organization.
Many of the vendors seen at every Saturday’s downtown farmers market will be in attendance. Shops found locally from Etsy.com will also partake in the booths.
“Farm Day is a lot like the downtown farmer’s market, except there’s also a petting zoo,” said Valley Mills junior, Vanessa Baum, a volunteer for World Hunger Relief, Inc. “You’ll see some of the same vendors selling anything from organic lip balm to good-living crafts and farm fresh veggies.”
According to the World Hunger Relief Inc. website, this past year, Ride for Relief alone raised $8,600 for the farm. This spring, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will match all donations up to $2,000.
The proceeds from both the Farm Day and Ride for Relief will go directly to World Hunger Relief. Since World Hunger Relief Inc. is a nonprofit, these funds will go to support the farm’s mission.
In addition to raising money for the ministry, Farm Day is meant to showcase the farm and all it is able to produce for the community. Harris said it’s meant to let the community know the farm exists.
“A big part of what we do is community education,” Harris said. “We want to let people know there’s a local source to buy from. Also, it gives a chance for kids to see where food comes from. Food is not grown in the grocery store.”
The events on Saturday give the community a chance to see what World Hunger Relief does on a daily basis. The mission of the farm is more than focusing on the Waco community — also ministers to an international audience.
“World Hunger Relief Inc. is a holistic ministry that seeks to educate others about agriculture in a sustainable way,” Harris said. “We want to encourage the community to live simply and eat better. We also partner with places like Haiti, Liberia and El Salvador to teach sustainability there through agriculture.”
Those interested in volunteering for the day, can contact Allyson Polman at volunteers@worldhungerrelief.org. The organization also welcomes volunteers year-round to help man the farm.
Directions to the site are available through the World Hunger Relief Inc. website.
