Rev. Karen Koiter –
It’s been a long, dark winter, figuratively and literally. But for two hours every Wednesday afternoon at our Good Food Market at Little Trinity Church, there is laughter, friendships being built, and lots of fruits and vegetables sold.
Every Wednesday the “market open” sign is plugged in, produce is displayed in baskets, and tea, hot chocolate and coffee are set out by a team of volunteers from the church and the community.
The Little Trinity Good Food Market is a local community initiative to provide a grocery alternative for our neighbourhood in a time of increased costs. As a non-profit enterprise run by volunteers, we are able to offer quality fruits and vegetables at affordable prices.
The dream is to create a space where every person would be welcome and would be able to access good food, regardless of income levels. Studies have shown that community resilience and satisfaction increase when folks from different economic realities rub shoulders, and that is very true at our market. Our pay-it-forward system (we call it the “Heart System”) enables neighbours to care for neighbours by adding a dollar or two to their bill to allow others to have their bills reduced. This system is thriving and we are grateful for the generosity and beautiful community we see in action.
In addition to the produce, we offer live music on each month’s first and third Wednesdays. In winter, we are inside with cafe tables and a cosy atmosphere. In summer, you can find us in the park beside the church. This summer we will be adding a couple of “art tables” starting June 10 for anyone to make art in the park.
On June 3, to celebrate Bike Week in Toronto, we will have a “Blessing of the Bikes” and offer free minibike tune-ups. Every October we offer a “Blessing of the Pets” (complete with photobooth), and early in December we have a Christmas market with local crafts and seasonal goodies.
We keep exploring ways for our market to serve the Corktown community that we love. To know more or volunteer, email Karen Koiter at kkoiter@littletrinity.org.
