MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, 515-271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu
The Drake Neighborhood Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, Sept. 23, will offer free belly dancing lessons by Creative Fusion Dance Company for market patrons. Dancing will be held in 15-minute intervals beginning at 4:30 p.m.
In addition, representatives from The National Alliance of the Mentally Ill will offer free, confidential depression screenings and referrals, as well as information on mental health.
The market will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 30 in the parking lot of First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave. Free parking is available for shoppers across from the market on the east side of 25th Street.
More than 20 vendors will offer Iowa-grown produce, baked goods, snacks, meals, sandwiches and crafts. Four vendors will have wireless equipment to accept bank debit cards, VISA, Discover and MasterCard credit cards, as well as Electronic Benefit Transfer cards.
IFMNP/WIC checks and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition checks are welcome at the market.
Entertainment will be provided weekly, as well as educational and informative guests. The market has a health tent, where free blood pressure checks and blood sugar tests will be available every week.
The market is a nonprofit, community project sponsored by First Christian Church, the Drake Neighborhood Association and Drake University. For more information, call Ginny Gieseke at 515-277-6951 or visit the market’s Web site.
The 2009 Farmers’ Market season will conclude on Sept. 30 with its Harvest Festival, in celebration of the year’s bounty of fresh, Iowa-grown produce. Other market events at the festival will include:
- For Your Health — representatives from Visiting Nurse Services will discuss the Healthy Start and Empowerment Project, which provides support for pregnant women and parents of young children
- US Census 2010 — market patrons will talk with representatives from the Census Bureau about the census and why it is important
- Free piece of apple pie and cider
- Free cookie decorating for kids