Georgia Southern SIFE students aid Farmers Market
The Georgia Southern Applied Small Business Class of spring 2012 Farmers Market Branch was given the tasks to raise awareness about the Statesboro Farmers Market, increase online market customers, and raise 2,000 pounds of food for the Bulloch County Food Bank. In order to answer these challenges, the students devised several fundraisers and information strategies and are in the process of implementing them.
The first project is to work hand in hand with the Bulloch Academy to begin a can food drive competition between grades first through 12th. The winner of the competition will win a pizza party. A total of three pizza parties will be given; one for elementary, one for middle, and one for high school. All proceeds collected from the competition will go directly to the Bulloch County Food Bank. In addition, there will be a competition set up between the different floors to see which floor can raise the most cans. The winner of the floor will also receive a pizza party.
Our next project to raise food is collaborating with the local Harvey’s Supermarkets to set up awareness booths outside the stores while allowing non-perishable and monetary donations. All monetary donations will be invested back into the store by purchasing more food for the food bank.
To raise awareness and gain potential customers for the Farmers Market, a group of students are working with the Recreation Activities Center (RAC) on Georgia Southern’s campus to host an event about the benefits of eating local. The group is considering having a booth with lap tops set up for people to look at the Farmers Market website, Marekt2Go. The website offers online purchasing. Customers are welcome to pick up their purchases at the more convenient of two locations around Statesboro. Students and faculty will be encouraged to sign up to the website at the RAC event.
In addition, there are plans to host a student 5K race and cookout. This event will help showcase what foods are available at the Farmers Market by demonstrating how people can prepare different types of meals. There are also plans for the Farmers Market to have their own demonstrations on Georgia Southern’s campus. The student group will be part of these activities as well.
One of the last planned projects will be held during No Impact Week at Georgia Southern University. The group will host costumed demonstrations and a dunk tank for students to dunk teachers, staff, and deans in hopes of drawing attention to the group’s cause. A laser tag tournament at the Club House at Hackers will be held here in Statesboro in hopes to generate funds for the rest of the projects that the group of students hopes to accomplish.
written by: Amanda Foskey