ORANGE — GOALFM, meet GoFundMe.
The ad-hoc organization dedicated to expanding Orange and Athol’s year-round access to locally produced foods has mounted an online crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe.com to generate money to support food marketing in the North Quabbin region. Grow Orange and Athol Local Food Markets held its first meeting in December 2015 and volunteer Cathy Stanton said its aim is to boost marketing and profitability for the town’s farmers markets and the Quabbin Harvest co-op in Orange.
GOALFM’s crowdfunding campaign is branded as “Lots More Local.” Anyone can visit bit.ly/2r4uvqs to contribute.
Stanton said financial resources are stretched thin in the area and the Orange and Athol farmers markets have struggled in the past.
“This is to address that problem,” she said, adding that it can be difficult to compete with supermarket chains.
Stanton said the Athol market started May 20 and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the uptown common. She said the Orange market began May 18 and will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays in the Orange Armory parking lot at 141 East Main St.
The organization is printing and framing farmer portraits by Oliver Scott Photography for a gallery show at the Athol Public Library this month, to highlight local farmers. A $40 donation will fund the printing and framing of one portrait and a $65 donation will pay for 50 food brochures to be distributed at farmers markets, Quabbin Harvest, area stores, libraries and farms. A donation of $15 will purchase one new advertising yard sign.
The GoFundMe campaign will build upon funding raised to date through grants and contributions to partially fund the campaign’s goals. Early supporters include the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, the North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival Community’s grant-making program and the Orange Farmers Market Committee. Money will also help fund the 2017 edition of “Food from the North Quabbin” and the evaluation of the program efforts in improving knowledge or and access to local food.
GOALFM is also in need of a seasonal market assistant to work four to five hours a week through the market season. More information can be found at bit.ly/2r6CRP6.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli