ALMH Farmers Market plans free fun events for Market Grand Opening

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[May 16, 2016]  LINCOLN - The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation will offer several fun and free activities and offerings on May 21at the grand opening of The ALMH Market.

The indoor, producer-only farmers market will be held Saturdays from 8 a.m. to Noon in the Expo Building at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln, through October 29th.

The ALMH Market will launch its mission to increase access to fruits and vegetables with a ribbon cutting and ceremonial ringing of the opening bell at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. A variety of vendors will be onsite featuring Illinois-produced items. As a producer-only market, The ALMH Market only features vendors that grow or make their own items. The public is invited to join the ribbon cutting ceremony as we celebrate this latest effort to improve the health of Logan County and eastern Mason County.

 

Many free activities will be available. Children of all ages will enjoy an inflatable obstacle course and face painting to help celebrate The Market’s grand opening. The POP (Power of Produce) Club is for children ages 5-12 years old. The club is free to join and is based on the original POP Club that has roots in the Oregon City Farmers Market since May 2011. The goal of the weekly POP Club activities is to empower kids to make healthy food choices and introducing them to the local food system.

On opening day, ALMH will also kick-off the "Know Your Numbers" campaign. The free health screenings are sponsored by the ALMH Auxiliary. Participants 10 and up can obtain free lipid profiles, blood sugar, blood pressure, and BMI screenings. The screenings will be held on a rotating schedule throughout the market season.

At 9 a.m. the first of free weekly fitness activities will begin with Caitlin Lore teaching “Yoga for Stress Relief”. The ALMH Market is also hosting a blood drive with a visit from the Central Illinois Community Blood Center bloodmobile from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

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At 10 a.m. a live cooking demonstration will be held featuring ALMH registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, Jennifer DiPasquale. Attendees will learn how to build the best recipes for sides, soups, stir fry, casseroles, and more by using the right combinations of flavorful vegetables and seasonings. Also at 10 a.m. participants will have an opportunity to create a smoothie using pedal power. Live music will begin at 11 a.m.

“We take pride that The ALMH Market will be a wellness destination like no other in Illinois,” said Angela Stoltzenburg, ALMH marketing, and community partnerships director. “The Market is an extension of our mission to improve the health of the people and communities we serve; our aim is to promote fresh food and healthy living while supporting local farmers and the food-producer economy.”

For more information about The ALMH Market, visit www.TheALMHMarket.org or like The ALMH Market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thealmhmarket.

[Angela Stoltzenburg]

 

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