Kids’-run Farmstand Kicks Off in Haverstraw

Haverstraw Elementary School Teams Up with Catholic Community Services and Rockland Department of Health to
Educate Students on Fresh Foods, Nutrition and Commerce, While Helping Community’s Needy

HAVERSTRAW, Oct. 2, 2013 – Farmers markets in Rockland have been all the rage for many years and now a group of ambitious business-minded fifth and sixth graders from Haverstraw Elementary School are getting in on the act with their own farmstand. This fresh produce stand is like no other and is part of the school’s “Farm to School Partnership Program” to enhance student knowledge about nutrition, food sources, entrepreneurship, money management, math calculations, weights and measures, and to help “meet the need” as part of community service. The program is in partnership with Catholic Community Services of Rockland and the Rockland Department of Health.

The “Kids’ Charity Farmstand” debuted at noon today on the property of Catholic Community Services of Rockland (CCSR) at78 Hudson Avenue in Haverstraw. The old fashioned farmstand was chock full of freshly grown vegetables and fruits harvested from CCSR’s “Community Garden of Love.”  Among the produce were tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, eggplant, cantaloupe, potatoes and green beans. The Kids’ Charity Farmstand is open to the public every Wednesday in October from noon – 1 p.m. (Oct. 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th).

Students and teachers walked to their farmstand located a few blocks from their school and handled all aspects of selling, weighing and bagging the produce and money management just like running their own business. All proceeds from produce sales go directly to the nonprofit Catholic Community Services of Rockland for its “Feed the Need” fresh produce and food pantry program to assist Rockland’s hungry.

“We have the best fresh produce around and encourage everyone to stop by on their lunch-hour every Wednesday in October to support this important learning and charitable initiative,” Martha Robles, executive director of Catholic Community Services of Rockland, said. “These young people have put together a wonderful entrepreneurial enterprise and are eager to experience first-hand commerce in action and helping as many people in need as possible.”

For more information about the “Kids’ Charity Farmstand” call Catholic Community Services of Rockland at 942-5791 or Haverstraw Elementary School at 942-3400.