This Thanksgiving, Help Feed Our Community While Supporting Local Farmers
Holidays can be complicated, and Thanksgiving is no exception. From its problematic colonialist roots, to the quick pivot to holiday sales and, of course, all of the chaos that comes with spending time with family… we understand if it’s not your favorite holiday. However, at Boulder County Farmers Markets, we prefer to see our glasses of kombucha half full, and for Thanksgiving that means boiling it down to the essentials: sharing food with one another.
For centuries, the dinner table has been where life happens. It’s where recipes get passed down from one generation to the next. It’s where forks full of olives and tomatoes make a pass from one plate to another. It’s where life’s biggest news — and biggest heartbreaks — are shared. Thanksgiving can put a magnifying glass on this tradition in a way that can feel stifling or outdated, but it doesn’t have to. Whether you chose to craft a meal that better reflects your culture (or just your palate), celebrate with chosen family and friends, or skip the holiday all together, we hope you can still find space to honor gratitude for food: the farmers who grow it, the knowledge and skills that go into preparing it, and the people you share it with.
A Farmers Market on a Mission
On the list of things we’re grateful for this year is our ability to give back to our community through shared enjoyment and appreciation of food. Earlier this month, we rallied our neighbors to help fund holiday food bags for SNAP customers who lost their benefits during the government shutdown. With your help, we were able to purchase enough food from local farmers and small businesses to fill 150 bags with Thanksgiving staples like potatoes, onions, carrots, apples, and pie crusts. Customer after customer who came through shared their deep appreciation for the extra help, and many got to take home extra butternut squash donated from Cure Organic Farm.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we’re continuing to explore ways to support our community while investing in local food and agriculture. In addition to distributions like our holiday food bags, we’re partnering with local food pantries to donate bulk produce and protein items to help serve fresh, nutritious food to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. This holiday season, you can make a tax-deductible donation to Boulder County Farmers Markets so we can continue to do this important work all year long.
Ways to Donate
Unless you’re new to Colorado, you likely are familiar with Colorado Gives Day, happening this year on Tuesday, December 9. Making a gift to Boulder County Farmers Markets on Colorado Gives Day will go further than your average donation thanks to the $1 Million+ Incentive Fund. Plus, set up a new monthly donation on ColoradoGivesDay.org, and Colorado Gives Foundation will match your first gift up to $100!
If you’re looking for other effective ways to give, consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) through your IRA. Some IRAs require a minimum distribution before the end of the year, and it’s not too late to direct that distribution to Boulder County Farmers Markets as a QCD. Simply contact your IRA provider to learn more about how to make a QCD.
You can make a gift any time by visiting bcfm.org/donate or by mailing a check to Boulder County Farmers Markets at 1821 Lefthand Cir, Unit D, Longmont, CO 80501. However you choose to give, you can also check and see if your employer offers matching donations to help you double your contribution.
This Thanksgiving, as you gather around your table, we hope you’ll consider supporting Boulder County Farmers Markets in our mission to build a thriving local food system that nourishes everyone in our community. Every donation helps us connect more neighbors with fresh, locally-grown food while supporting the farmers and producers who make it all possible. From our table to yours, thank you for being part of our community and for helping us create a food system rooted in gratitude, equity, and abundance!
Join us at Winter Market
As the holiday season begins, don’t forget that our annual Winter Market is right around the corner! Join us for the merriest market of the year on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. We’ll have over 150 vendors, including many of your favorite farmers, ranchers, and small food businesses from the markets. Plus, meet some exciting new businesses, and explore handcrafted items from more than 50 artisans.
When: Saturday, December 6 & Sunday, December 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Fairgrounds — Exhibit Building (9595 Nelson Rd., Longmont, CO 80501)
