GREENFIELD — For the first August since 2005, there will be no Free Harvest Supper on the Greenfield Town Common this summer.
The volunteer organizing committee met and decided there weren’t enough organizers to do the work of planning a locally sourced meal for 1,000 people, a press release from the committee stated.
Since it started, the event has been coordinated by an ad hoc group of volunteers who work for four to five months before the supper. The event was made possible by the tireless work of the organizing committee, Hope & Olive, and many volunteers.
Each year’s supper was created from food donated by over 50 local farms and food producers. And, each year, the event raised money for the Farmers Market Coupon program coordinated by the Center for Self-Reliance Food Pantry to provide food to hungry families.
The Free Harvest Supper was initiated by Juanita Nelson as a way to celebrate the local harvest and encourage people to eat locally grown food.
Commenting on the cancellation of this year’s supper, organizer Mary McClintock said, “I am very sad there won’t be a Free Harvest Supper this summer. And, I also understand the challenges of finding enough people to take time out of their busy lives to organize such a large event. I know that many local community events are facing a similar challenge at finding enough organizers and volunteers.
“What I’m most sad about is that we won’t be together on the Common sharing a delicious meal … young and old, from all walks of life, friends, family, and people we’ve never met. I hope that each of us will continue to live Juanita’s vision by having our own harvest suppers with family, friends, and neighbors. And, perhaps in future years, people will come together again to create something like the Free Harvest Supper.”