Added on June 3, 2019  Sara Swanson

Acorn Market plans April 2020 opening

submitted by Ruth VanBogelen, Acorn Farmers’ Market & Cafe

Progress on opening a non-profit food store in the Village of Manchester continues. Planned for April 2020, the store will sell locally produced vegetables, meat and dairy products as well as some prepared items for quick, healthy home-made meals. The store will also feature a small café serving beverages, breakfast and lunch. And finally, the store will be a place for the community to gather for coffee and conversation, cooking classes, networking, special events, and workshops.  

Why can’t the store open sooner than April 2020?     

Because Acorn’s ultimate success will depend on the community’s participation, its start-up will be funded through gifts, grants and donations from within the community and from regional foundations and corporations that support community development efforts. A fundraising goal of $200,000 has been targeted to renovate the downtown location to include a small kitchen and an indoor/outdoor seating area, and to purchase essential equipment such as refrigerators.  

Incorporated as a Michigan non-profit business this April, Acorn Farmers Market and Cafe, Inc. is currently awaiting its federal tax-exempt designation – a process that can take up to six months – before donations can be received from charitable foundations and government granting agencies. In the meantime, the Acorn board of directors is building the organizational framework to mount a graduated fundraising campaign and simultaneously plan for renovations and business operations.  

The Prep Fund opened In April with an inaugural donation of $500 from the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation and with significant contributions from several individuals. A $500 donation in May from the Manchester Men’s Club has been a meaningful contribution toward initial design work in preparation for the renovations. Meanwhile, several grant proposals for the Build Fund have been submitted or are in progress to meet summer submission deadlines. A running tally of fundraising revenue will be maintained on the Acorn Farmers’ Market and Café Facebook page.

Who are the organizers, and is help needed?  

Megan DeLeeuw, Linda Knox, Theresa Herron, Linda Davis and Ruth VanBogelen comprise the organizing Board of Directors. Visit the website at Acornfarmersmarketcafe.org for more information about them.

Acorn has five committees preparing for the spring 2020 opening and all committees need additional volunteers.  

• Linda Knox and Linda Davis are leading the Fund Development Committee
• Megan DeLeeuw is leading the Capital Improvements Committee
• Theresa Herron and Ruth VanBogelen are leading the Marketing & Community Engagement Committee.
• For the Operations Committee, individuals are helping with different tasks, but do not currently have a leader for the entire committee.
• Sustainable Entrepreneurship Committee has been roughly defined but currently does not have a leader.

If you are passionate that Manchester have a food store that promotes healthy eating and supports local agriculture, consider donating and/or volunteering to help make it a reality in the spring of 2020.  

Donations may be mailed to: Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café, P.O. BOX 794, Manchester, MI 48158. For more information about making a donation, email AcornFarmersMarket@gmail.com

To volunteer, email 48158food@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page for information about current opportunities. Working meetings are held regularly on Sundays from 1 -3 PM at 327 W. Main St. Drop-ins are welcome. 

To be added to the email newsletter, send your request to 48158food@gmail.com.

For additional information visit AcornFarmersMarketCafe.org.