Volunteering at Acorn is rewarding, fun, and … needed!
Colorful and flavorful fresh foods are a hallmark of Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café, as are their volunteers! Come and join this fresh crew; find out more about volunteering at Acorn!
April 18-25 is National Volunteer Week and it’s rather serendipitous as that’s just about the time that Acorn Farmers Market & Café will be eagerly seeking new volunteers to help out in their new store, set to open in early May.
Laura Billetdeaux, board member and volunteer coordinator for Acorn, says, “In the new store, we are going to rely on many more volunteer hours — and we don’t have those volunteers yet. Manchester folks have asked about volunteering, but we simply have not had the hours available … until the new store.
“I’d like to let people know that volunteer opportunities will be opening again — there are quite a few — and we’ve got some truly AWESOME volunteers.”
A few current volunteers were happy to share their experiences with volunteering for Acorn and why it’s important to them. Maybe you’ll find some reasons that it’s important to you, too!
Bob Eichinger is often the guy who greets you at the door with his thermometer and hand sanitizer. But that’s not all he does at Acorn. “I also help keep the displays stocked, break down boxes for recycling, take inventory, answer customer questions, and generally help with anything that needs doing. I most enjoy meeting and visiting with the customers as they enter and I feel good contributing to the effort to make the Acorn vision a reality.”
Bob started volunteering at Acorn in September 2020. “My motivation was the need to have more food purchasing options within the community of Manchester, especially healthy ones since our only full line grocery store closed,” he says. “Having farm fresh locally grown produce, beef, pork, poultry, syrup, jams, honey, etc. available seven days a week during the growing season is a tremendous benefit for Manchester. It helps everyone in our community in so many ways. It’s a necessity I highly value and a convenience we can all appreciate.”
Most volunteers usually spend around 3-4 hours one day a week as a minimum. “We would love to have lots more volunteers supporting Acorn!” says Laura Billetdeaux. “We will have volunteer opportunities every day of the week in our new location.”
Laura emphasizes that some of the work is behind the scenes, while other jobs are community-facing. “I will help match a person with specific interests and skills to a volunteer role we have or are creating,” she adds.
Ginny Johnson has been volunteering just two hours every other Saturday, but feels like even that limited commitment level that fits into her current schedule is welcomed and appreciated by Acorn staff.
“I retired one year ago and had been busy helping with grandkids but felt that I wanted to be more active in the Manchester community once it was safe to be with others again,” she says. “The volunteers I have met to date have been a mixture of older (me) and younger, of a variety of lifestyles and interests.”
Ginny is responsible for preparing orders placed in advance of Saturday opening and then assisting with stocking and anything else that needs to be done. She considers Laura a patient instructor, and every one she works with is friendly … “And the entire experience is enjoyable,” she says. “I had not shopped much at the local farmer’s market as I participated in the CSA at Fusilier’s. Acorn offers a great selection of items and shopping after I volunteer is a real plus!”
Tim Polk, another volunteer, says he volunteers at Acorn Market “because I think it’s important to bring local farmers’ produce to the community, and since we are in dire need of a grocery store this is more important than ever.” He adds, “I feel very blessed to be able to work with the wonderful people at Acorn Market to help make this happen. The community support of this market has been wonderful, and volunteering just makes a person feel good.”
Patty Havey has been volunteering with Acorn since last fall, and has just hired on as an employee who will be working in the new store.
Currently, as a volunteer, Patty greets people, takes temperatures, and checks to ensure they are wearing their masks properly. “I help keep the store looking clean and tidy, straighten shelves, and sanitize surfaces periodically,” she adds. “I also assist customers with any questions they might have, and if I’m not able to answer (I am definitely still learning) I can at least point them towards the knowledgeable staff!”
As a newer resident of Manchester, Patty has found it rewarding as a volunteer to get to know the community here in Manchester, make new friendships, and find camaraderie, as well as having an opportunity to connect with and learn from the local famers. “I’ve just recently learned about sun chokes!”
“I’m also really happy to see a local market like Acorn flourishing and offering access to fresh local produce,” Patty adds, “and volunteering is a great way to help out and ensure that it continues to grow.”
Bob Eichinger concludes, “As we move to the new store our need for volunteers will at least quadruple since we will be open seven days a week and possibly twelve hours each day … We think we will have around 80 volunteer work hours each week to fill.”
Some of the jobs that will be asked of community volunteers to help with is receiving, stocking and restocking shelves, helping at the cashier stand, cleaning and organizing, and helping customers with their needs. “And, I’m sure once we’re in the new store we’ll find additional things to do,” Bob adds. “This is my first volunteer experience and I really enjoy it. I appreciate the willingness of Acorn management to be flexible with schedules and the team I get to work with is first class. Work shifts are generally three or four hours and I think that will continue at the new store. Add to that it’s something I believe is important to Manchester … and it’s a win/win for me.”
If you are interested in volunteering at the NEW Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café, contact Laura via email, lbilletdeaux@gmail.com.
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