Farmers and shoppers at Kirkland’s Wednesday Market are taking “giving local” and “building sustainability” to a new level.

Each week participating Wednesday Market farmers and producers of fruit, vegetables, milk and bread, are donating cases of food to local non-profit organization Hopelink, enabling families in crisis to make progress toward achieving self-sufficiency.

Volunteers from Hopelink arrive each Wednesday during market day, with empty boxes to be filled by vendor donations. At the end of the day the boxes, filled with donated food, are brought back to Hopelink’s facility to distribute to families in need. Since Wednesday Market began participating in this program more than 127 boxes of food have been donated.

“The generosity of the vendors donating their end-of-day produce to Hopelink has been great to see at the market, it is a great feeling to be a part of this and provide much needed fresh food for the families they support,” said Bill Davidson of Bills Fruits, a vendor at the market and also a member of the Kirkland Wednesday Market board. “It really is all about everyone working together to build sustainable communities.”

With Hopelink’s six centers each offering several food banks a week, plus deliveries to elderly and disabled individuals who are homebound, donations like those given by local vendors at Kirkland’s Wednesday Market provide the foundation for supplying food to those who need it most.

Kirkland’s Wednesday Market will run through Oct. 15. Located on the east end of Park Lane in Kirkland, market hours are from 2–7 p.m.

Other upcoming special happenings at the Kirkland Wednesday Market include: Harvest Supper: The Grape Choice Grape Stomp on Sept. 17, Hoe Down on Oct. 1, Hot Cider and Pumpkins Oct. 8 and a Dog Halloween Costume Show Oct. 15. Tickets are available online for the first annual Harvest Supper at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/42135. For information, visit www.kirklandwednesdaymarket.org.