Money for Your Guns, a More Inclusive Farmers Market, and More!
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Money for Your Guns
The Somerville Police Department and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will partner to host a Somerville gun buyback initiative this Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Somerville Department of Public Works Yard, 1 Franey Rd.
This regional initiative has taken place in several communities in Middlesex County over the past few years, providing residents with a safe and secure way of removing unwanted firearms from their homes.
For anyone interested in disposing of their firearms at the event, please bring firearms unloaded—with the safety engaged—in a bag, box, or case. Leave the unloaded firearms inside the trunk of your vehicle upon arrival at the DPW Yard.
The police will give out up to $200 in gift cards per firearm. BB guns, air guns, and ammunition do not qualify for gift cards but can be turned in for disposal. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and the State Police will safely destroy all guns collected at the event.
Removing guns from your home will help to reduce the risk of suicide, domestic violence, and accidental discharge. The Somerville Police Department encourages residents to take advantage of this opportunity to help prevent accidents and injuries in our homes and community.
Building a More Inclusive Farmers Market
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients often cannot access fresh, local, nutrient-dense foods. You can help our neighbors who want to shop at our local farmers markets but can’t afford it.
Starting this Saturday, Union Square Main Streets will present its fifth annual Good Food for All, a week-long community campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Union Square Farmers Market Local SNAP Match.
Since 2005, USMS has raised money to match SNAP dollars, making it possible for more eligible households to purchase food from the farmers market.
Since 2020, the demand for the SNAP match at the Union Square Farmers Market has increased by 218%.
From June 18-25, participating businesses will donate proceeds from a featured product or service or a percentage of sales to the local SNAP match program. When you shop, dine, or play at any of these businesses, and purchase their featured item or promotion, the businesses will donate proceeds to the SNAP match program. Every Saturday at the Union Square Farmers Market, SNAP customers receive a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $15, for healthy, fresh, local food.
If you don’t have a chance to patronize those participating businesses next week, you can make a donation to support the SNAP Match initiative.
Gardening with Green City Growers
The Somerville Public Library and Green City Growers are partnering to offer organic gardening workshops for all ages at the Central Library Demonstration Garden.
A Green City Growers farmer will lead hands-on workshops designed to teach you when and what to plant, and how to maintain, fertilize, and harvest successful crops. No registration is necessary. Wear comfortable clothes and be ready to get your hands dirty!
The next session will take place this Saturday, June 18 at 1 p.m. on the Central Library Lawn at 79 Highland Ave. Future workshops will take place July 9, July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 10, Oct. 1, and Oct. 22. These workshops are made possible with funding by the Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
Film Uplifts Local Women Artists
“We Are Here Too” is a new documentary that tells the story of how four women of color living in Somerville at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic used the artistic media they mastered—lithography, photography, painting, and jazz—to reflect on the global health crisis, the city of Somerville, their families, American history, and the social justice uprisings of 2020.
The Somerville Community Growing Center, at 22 Vinal Ave. just outside Union Square, will host the film’s premiere on Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. (rain date June 17). After the 23-minute film, there will be a panel discussion with the artists: Imagine, Tori Weston, Iaritza Menjivar, and Raynel Shepard.
This event is supported by the Somerville Arts Council. Registration is not required but it is encouraged.
Photo Credit: Former phone reflects the day in Somerville. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.
This article is syndicated by the Somerville Wire municipal news service of the Somerville News Garden project of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism.
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Linda Pinkow is a reporter for the Somerville Wire. She is also a development consultant for the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism.
