Citizens Co-op celebrates its first year with festival
The Shambles perform during the Citizen's Co-Op Summer Survival Fest on Saturday in Gainesville.
Matt Stamey/Staff photographer
Matt Stamey/Staff photographer
Published: Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 10:03 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 10:03 p.m.
"Gainesville's Citizens Co-op celebrated its first anniversary with food, festivities and even a waterslide Saturday as part of its Summer Survival Fest fundraiser.
Eventgoers and organizers who sweated under the blazing-hot sun for the first few hours could appreciate how aptly named the festival was. Fortunately, organic sno-cones and cold lemonade were offered during the event, which was held across the street from the organic food market in a field off South Main Street.
The fundraiser included food and drinks from numerous local businesses, nine bands, a waterslide and craft tables for children, a massage booth and a photo booth, and drawings for prizes.
Money from entrance fees and beer sales went to help the co-op — which opened on July 15, 2011 — make ends meet.
Though the festival was primarily a fundraiser for the co-op, other neighborhood nonprofits were present and some were directly involved, such as the Repurpose Project, a local "reuse" center located near the co-op. The group set up craft tables and gave away objects such as bicycle reflectors, wine-bottle corks and shells for children to glue together and turn into crafts.
Mike Meyers, co-founder of Repurpose Project, said he was happy to be a part of the event.
"We're all pretty much nonprofit people around here. Fundraisers are a part of life," Meyers said.
Both Gretchen McIntyre, a co-founder of the co-op, and Kenny Jewett, the co-op's manager, said they expected the co-op to survive the first year, but it didn't do so without facing difficulties."
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