MIDDLEBURY—The members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church are working hard preparing for Peasant Market, their annual community fundraiser, which is coming up this Saturday, July 6. “Donations have been flowing in” said Joe McVeigh, co-chair of Peasant Market 2019, “it seems like a lot of people are taking the advice of Marie Kondo and have been de-cluttering their spaces. That’s been great for us.” 
Volunteers have been busy staffing the church through the intake process with carts and hand trucks to bring in the heavier items. “We have some real treasures this year,” said McVeigh, though he hastened to add that the process of accepting donations is concluded for this year. “We have all we can handle!” he said. 
Each year church members work throughout the winter to create an item to be raffled off. This year’s project is a beautiful, hand-crafted stand-up paddleboard.
Peasant Market is near and dear to the members of St. Stephen’s because it is the core of their community outreach program. In 2018, the net profit of peasant market funds provided $18,000 in grant money that went to support several local charities. Church members also use the funds to support a free community lunch on Mondays during the school year.
McVeigh reminds visitors that parking on Main Street and Merchant’s Row right around the Green is restricted to two hours. He noted that there is plenty of parking available on Seymour Street and on North and South Pleasant Streets, as well as in nearby parking lots. 
This year Peasant Market is set for Saturday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It features booths full of books, furniture, fabric and linens, toys, flowers and garden items, and clothing. Antiques, jewelry, and a silent auction provide additional shopping opportunities. There is a midway with games to entertain children while parents shop, a fresh squeezed lemonade stand, and a lunch grill with food for everyone. For more information about Peasant Market and to purchase online raffle tickets, visit their website at ststephensmidd.org.