Relief Fund now Open for St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Vendors
Posted Oct 29, 2013 11:52:32 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was nearly two months ago that a massive fire destroyed the main building at the St. Jacobs Market and the community hasn’t stop giving back.
The St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Vendor Relief Fund through The Kitchener and Waterloo Community foundation is now accepting donations.
CEO of the KWCF, Rosemary Smith tells 570 News how this will make a difference in the community.
“The money will help vendors do things like replace equipment, help their employees who are not receiving any wages, and will allow them to take an opportunity to view business interruption and re-invest in their organization.”
Smith adds in her 12 years with the organization she has never seen anything happen in the Region that has generated this amount of interest to donate and give back.
“I think there is recognition that this is a huge representation of the culture of this community. It brings in lots of tourism and visitors.”
Smith says for the past two months they have been putting together a committee of experts to help advise where best to put the money and how best to get it to the vendors.
“We’re doing something that we’ve never really done in this way before and we know that we need experience and expertise to do it, we don’t have it all ourselves and so the people in this community stepping up to make it happen.”
Smith adds, vendors whose products were already insured will not receive money from the fund. The donations will primarily be for small vendors who sold specialized products or those who cannot afford to re-establish their business.
Donations will be sought until December 31, 2013 and can be made here.
