Front: Crystal Vogel
The group “Heart Mothers” sells gourmet cupcakes during the last Laramie Farmer’s Market of the season. The group sells the cupcakes to raise funds for young victims of sex trafficking in Cambodia.
Last Friday the Downtown Farmers Market put on its final event of the season.
Every year the Farmers Market is held in downtown Laramie every Friday starting in July and ending in September. This event caters to more than just farmers. Vendors sell goods ranging from goat cheese to jewelry and clothing. Other organizations involved in the Farmers Market include non-profits such as: Feeding Laramie Valley and Heart Mothers.
Feeding Laramie Valley is a non-profit organization based out of Laramie that started in 2010. Feeding Laramie Valley grows and distributes fresh produce for local community members. So why are they at the Farmers Market? The organization sets up a table offering information about its cause and accept donations from other venders and customers.
“The best part about participating in these Farmers Markets would definitely be seeing how generous venders and customers are,” said representative from Feeding Laramie Valley Sean Conway. Conway also mentioned that Feeding Laramie Valley has attended every Farmers Market since the organization was founded and has benefited greatly from everyone’s generosity. The vision of Feeding Laramie Valley is to help families get and grow fresh food; the Laramie Farmers Markets definitely help with this vision, said Conway.
Another non-profit organization that was present on Friday was Heart Mothers. This is an organization that was established in 2009 by Ruth Williams. Eight years ago Williams read an article about a little girl who was saved from sex trafficking.
“It made me absolutely sick. I decided that I had to do something to help these poor girls,” said Williams. Williams uses the Farmers Markets to sell dozens and dozens of cupcakes that she makes herself in order to raise money for girls in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, which is where Williams has her own orphanage with 86 girls in it. Heart Mothers is now up to a group of 80 women who write and send care packages to these girls. Williams even goes to Cambodia in order to visit the girls at least a couple of times a month.
These are just a couple of the non-profits who benefit from the Farmers Market; there are plenty of other vendors selling other goods. Weaving through the different vendors downtown you will see those who are selling hatch peppers, handmade jewelry and clothing, sweet tea, and homemade jams and jellies. There is even a free band performing up-beat tunes that helps solidify atmosphere of the whole event. Many people that attend these markets have said that they feel it has an amazing atmosphere and sense of community. On top of all of these great organizations and vendors, there’s even a street dance that anyone is welcome to join in on. All of these great aspects come together to form one of the most anticipated events in Laramie. With another summer in the books, Laramie’s farmers’ markets will return next July with more produce, peppers, baskets and so much more.
