A new weekly farmers market, the Mid-Week Market at Montverde held in the town’s Kirk Park, has named Montverde United Methodist Church as host of the Wednesday event.
The partnering of the church with the Market, which opened January, will help increase awareness of the church’s outreach ministries, including their homeless ministry and the Montverde Food Pantry, so that MUMC may serve more individuals and families needing food. The association is also expected to bring additional food items, such as fresh produce, fish, artisan breads and cheeses, Cottage Industry homemade items and other foodstuffs, to the church for distribution to those being served.
“We are very pleased that MUMC is the host of the Market,” says Julie Bennett, Executive Director of the Montverde United Methodist Church’s Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, better known as the Montverde Food Pantry. Bennett said the pantry was established by the congregation in September 2009 to help support neighbors having difficulty making ends meet. “Being involved with the Market will help us spread the word that the Food Pantry is here to assist all-comers in their time of need.”
“On behalf of the Mid-Week Market, we are pleased that MUMC has agreed to host the weekly event,” states Ron Smart of AdComm Creative Marketing Group. “This arrangement gives this new farmers’ market a wonderful opportunity to help support the community through MUMC’s Food Pantry.” Smart adds, “MUMC will have an information tent at the Market so vendors and shoppers can learn more about the church, the Food Pantry, and their other activities.” He adds that the Food Pantry will be recognized in the Market’s advertising, promotional and publicity efforts.
“The opportunity for the Market to partner with the Food Pantry fell into place,” according to AdComm’s Director of Vendor Relations & Communications, Carl Gordon. “The Town of Montverde permits the Market to set up in Kirk Park…roughly 100 yards from the Methodist Church. We met Bob Bennett, Julie’s husband, and immediately recognized that we could help serve the community by working together,” Gordon says. “We greatly appreciate MUMC’s Administrative Board and its congregation for giving us this opportunity to help contribute to the MUMC Food Pantry’s mission.”
The Mid-Week Market at Montverde is every Wednesday from 11 am-6 pm in Kirk Park which is located at 17436 Division Street, in the center of town. Florida’s Scenic Green Mountain Parkway, CR-455, connects SR Highway 50 south of Montverde between Clermont and Winter Garden, to Highway 561 and to Highway 19 near Howie-In-The-Hills.
The Market’s major sponsor is Arellano Realty. The Town of Montverde permits use of Kirk Park and notes the community Market’s presence via its website and newsletter. For more information about the Market, contact Ron Smart, (352) 394-3392, or Carl Gordon, (407) 485-7313. For a preview, please go to @montverdemarket on Facebook.
Montverde United Methodist Church is known as “the little church with the big heart.” The church is located at 17015 Porter Avenue, Montverde, FL. Food Pantry hours are Mondays 9 am to 11 am and Fridays 7 am to 4 pm. All with need are welcome. For information, contact Julie Bennett at (407) 469-3882 or visit https://www.montverdeumc.org.
