CEI - Community Essentials Initiative

Giving Back To Our Community.

The Williamstown Farmers Market is committed to helping address food insecurity in our community. The WFM-Community Essentials Initiative (CEI) allows our market to provide weekly donations of food to families in northern Berkshire County who are in need.

Produce and eggs are being purchased from vendors each week at the end of the market day using financial contributions to the market from the community.   In addition, our farmers are donating surplus items, when available.  This partnership supports our local farmers and gives access to fresh local produce for those who are food insecure. In its first year, over one ton of food was donated to food pantries in North Adams and Williamstown. We are most grateful to the north Berkshire community for its generous support of this effort.

Charles Bonenti of the St. John’s Episcopal Church Outreach Committee in Williamstown, says of the initiative:

“St. John’s Episcopal Church is very grateful to the Williamstown Farmers Market, one of our outreach partners, for its generous weekly offerings of fresh local produce to the Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry serving North Berkshire families in need.” 

We were fortunate enough in June 2023 to be the recipient organization for the Round Up for Change program organized by the Wild Oats Market and funded entirely through the generosity of Wild Oats members and customers. And now we will be receiving it again in June 2024! All donations that the Williamstown Farmers Market received from this program – totaling over $3,500 – went directly toward purchases by the Community Essentials Initiative for weekly donations to food pantries of fresh local produce and eggs.

If you would like to make a direct contribution, you can do so through the following outlets:

Online: Donate securely using the “DONATE” button at the top right of this page.

In Person: Find the market manager each Saturday on Spring Street from 9-1pm.

By Mail: A donation by check can be made out to Williamstown Farmers Market and sent to PO Box 222,  Williamstown, MA 01267.