This is the final week for the 2013 Summer Street Stroll Farmers Market and free movies in the Barton County courthouse square. It will also be the last market that seniors will be able to use their Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks, according to Janel Rose at the Barton County Health Department.
The outdoor market will be open from 5-8 p.m. The movie will be shown around 8:15, said Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator.
“Our final movie of the season will be ‘Rudy,’ the story of a young man who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles,” Hayes said. “The City will be providing free popcorn, nachos and chocolate for movie-goers in celebration of our sports/true story theme and everyone is invited to attend.”
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a federal program that provides eligible seniors with checks for fresh fruits and vegetables and honey that can be used only at farmers markets. It is an initiative to improve the nutrition for seniors living on fixed incomes as well as encouraging the production of locally grown fruits and vegetables, Rose said.
This is the first year that Barton County has been able to participate in the program and it has been very successful, she said. “We were fortunate to be selected and the program has provided great fresh fruits and vegetables for seniors throughout the county.”
Seniors were notified of the program and two application days were held at Great Bend Senior Center in collaboration with partner Janet Splitter, executive director of Friendship Meals and ElderCare.
Summer Street Stroll Farmers Market is sponsored by the Barton County Health Department’s Chronic Disease Risk Reduction program and the City of Great Bend.
Other venders will continue to sell fresh produce from 7 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Great Bend Public Library parking lot. A vender at that farmers market said they’ll continue to sell items into October.