Volunteering is a fantastic way to become more involved in the market and to support local food and local farmers. The diverse listing of opportunities, with variable time commitments, provides options for practically anyone's schedule.
The Downtown Lawrence Farmers' Market is currently seeking volunteer staffing for the following positions. Please contact us for additional information.
With only one part-time employee, the Market must recruit volunteers to assist the Market Coordinator in setting up the Saturday Market, staffing the Market Information Booth as well as the planning and implementation of special market day events.
General responsibilities include:
- Recruit potential volunteers
- Collect volunteer applications
- Schedule volunteer shifts
- Submit schedule to market coordinator for review
- Occasional assistance with Market Square
The Volunteer Coordinator works closely with the market coordinator to evaluate the need for volunteers. Most of this work will be done outside market hours.
Attributes desired include:
- Access to internet for communication with coordinator and volunteers
- Good organizational skills
- Infectious positive attitude for the importance of the market
- Ability to work a minimum of one Saturday Market Square shift per month (May-October)
With the new, much larger site, the DLFM Board recognized the need for a central, designated space to provide market information and host special market promotions. The Market Information Booth is centrally located between the two market lots. The booth has an EZ-Up canopy, table and a tote with a tablecloth, market notebooks (info, maps, sign-ups, etc.)
General responsibilities include:
- Assist in setting-up and taking down market info booth
- Answer patron questions such as where to find a specific vendor, when do blueberries come into season, etc..
- Collect email addresses for market e-newsletter
- Distribute special promotional gifts
- Answer questions and distribute applications to potential vendors
- Assist with customer counts
The Market Information Booth has two shifts per Saturday
6:30 - 9:00 am
- Set-up EZ-Up canopy and table
- Unpack market materials-notebooks, flyers etc..
- Assist with opening bell and 8:00 AM shopper counts
- General duties listed above
9:00 - 11:30 am
- Assist with 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM shopper counts
- General duties listed above
- Pack market materials-notebooks, flyers etc.
- Take down EZ-Up canopy and table
Attributes desired include:
- Love of the farmers' market
- Enjoyment of people and a positive personality
- Tolerance of variable weather conditions
- Ability to work a minimum of one Saturday per month (May-October)
The Market is a Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Pilot Market. EBT is the Vision Card-Food Stamps Program for Kansas with program benefits being issued on debit like Vision Cards. These cards require a credit card type processing machine. The market has received a grant for the machine and necessary tokens so that we may accept Food Stamps and debit cards.
General responsibilities include:
- Assist in setting-up and taking down market info booth
- Process the Vision and debit card transactions and give tokens
- Answer shopper questions on the program
- Possibly help to market and raise awareness of the program
The EBT Coordinator will preferably work the entire Market Day, but two shifts may be possible.
6:30 - 9:15 am
- Set-up EZ-Up canopy and table with the Market Booth Volunteer
- Unpack EBT materials-machine, tokens, signs, etc.
- General duties listed above
9:15 - 11:30 am
- General duties listed above
- Pack market materials- machine, tokens, signs, etc.
- Take down EZ-Up canopy and table with the Market Booth Volunteer
Attributes desired include:
- Love of the farmers' market and desire to improve accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables to those on food assistance
- Enjoyment of people and a positive personality
- Tolerance of variable weather conditions
- Ability to work consistently throughout most of the season
Designated at the location for the three E's, eating, educating and entertaining, the Market Square consists of two 10' by 20' tents covering ten folding picnic tables and the designated "stage" for the larger musical group. The Market Square is located in the East Lot along Rhode Island Street.
General responsibilities include:
- Assist in setting-up and taking down of the EZ-Up tents and folding picnic tables
- Occasional wipe-down of tables and trash pick-up
The Market Square has two shifts per Saturday
6:00 - 8:00 am
- Set-up EZ-Up tents and tables with market coordinator and vendor volunteers
- Unpack and hang sponsor banners
- General duties listed above
9:30 - 11:30 am
- General duties listed above
- Remove and store sponsor banners
- Take down EZ-Up tents and tables with market coordinator and vendor volunteers
Attributes desired include:
- Punctuality
- Strength to lift heavy items
- Tolerance of variable weather conditions
- Ability to work a minimum of one Saturday Market Square shift per month (May-October)
With the market's new layout, we are able to host two musical groups each Saturday. A large group (3 or more members) plays in the Market Square located in the East Lot along Rhode Island Street. A small group (3 or fewer members) plays in the West Lot rotating hourly to one of three designated spots.
General responsibilities include:
- Recruit family friendly groups to play at market
- Collect performer applications
- Schedule performances
- Write/collect band info for weekly press releases and website
- Confirm appearances
- Submit schedule to market coordinator for review
- Occasional assistance with Market Square
The Music Coordinator works closely with the market coordinator to insure compliance with Performer Guidelines. Most of this work will be done outside market hours. Occasional assistance with Market Square may be requested.
Attributes desired include:
- Knowledge of and involvement in local music scene
- Access to internet for communication with coordinator and bands
- Good organizational skills
- Infectious positive attitude for the importance of music to the market environment
- Ability to work a minimum of one Saturday Market Square shift per month (May-October)
The Downtown Lawrence Farmers' Market has its own website of Sprout Design. We are also distributing a weekly e-newsletter, the Freshest News, to market shoppers. To visually enhance the newsletter and web pages the market seeks a talented Market Photographer.
General responsibilities include:
- Regular market visits to photograph in season produce and special market events
- Taking individual vendor portraits for website
- Possible visits to select vendor farms for photo stories
- Submitting photos on CDs to market coordinator and web developer
The Market Photographer works closely with the market coordinator and web designer to insure quality digital photographs are available. The Market Photographer would need to attend market frequently. Most of this work would need to be done in the early market hours when produce displays are still abundant.
Attributes desired includes:
- Regular access to high-quality digital camera
- Access to internet for communication with coordinator and web designer
- Good organizational skills
Market Promotion volunteers will assist the market coordinator with planning and implementation of special market day events.
General responsibilities include:
- Assist market coordinator in developing concept of event
- Work with vendors to coordinate themed displays
- Create facts sheet on theme
- Write/assist with press release
- Serve as event coordinator on market day
- Occasional assistance with Market Square
The Market Events and Promotions Volunteer works closely with the market coordinator to develop the theme of the event. For example, with the "Honey, How Do You Do That?" theme, we would work with all of the honey vendors to determine any special displays to which they might have access (see-through hive, giant bee models, etc.) and resources towards which they could point us (Kansas Honey Producers). We would solicit donations of honey products for the give-away. The Market Events and Promotions Volunteer would create a facts sheet with a listing of the stall numbers of honey vendors and work-up a pres release two weeks prior to the event. Whenever possible, the market would like to encourage the inclusion of a children's activity. It's fun work and a great way to get to know local producers and support the market. Occasional assistance with Market Square may be requested.
Attributes desired include:
- Attention to detail
- Creative thinker
- Good organizational skills
- Access to internet for communication with coordinator
- Ability to be present at market on day of event to coordinate activities
