AWARDS

Volunteer Of The Year

Barb Mogren

Barb was left speechless when told she would be recognized as the Volunteer of the Year at the 2023 GCACC Annual Meeting. However, she’s hardly speechless when it comes to the Farmers’ Market, interacting with attendees both new and regular.

Barb was once a newcomer to the Grove City community herself and that’s when she and her husband first discovered the Market and became ‘regulars’. She shared that some Saturday mornings she and her husband would enjoy breakfast in Grove City’s Town Center and then walk over to explore and enjoy the Market.

Her love of the Market spans the full spectrum of what the Market offers, from enjoying the local products, meeting new people, and the many additional aspects the Chamber includes in the Market, such as the Chief’s Challenge cook-off.

“The market has lots of great produce and other goodies and the market can be a social event,” Barb said.

For as much as Barb interacts with the ‘real’ world, the realization to volunteer at the Farmers’ Market actually started in the digital world. She saw a Facebook post seeking volunteers for the season and has continued every market Saturday beginning at 6:30 a.m.

“I thought, I can do that!” she said. “I always shop at the Market and this is a way to help sustain the market and help my community.”

In addition to a friendly face, the Chamber team said Barb also brings a strong work ethic and can-do attitude. Every Saturday morning of the Market season you can find her marking spaces, placing signs, assisting vendors with their tents and finding their spaces. It’s reassuring to the team to know that Barb is on hand to make sure things get done.

Like many who are regular volunteers of an organization, or return year after year to a seasonal opportunity, it comes back to the people and the social interaction. Barb is always amazed by the people one can ‘bump into’ at the Market.

“I return year after year because it is important to give back, it is a simple gig, and most importantly, I have met some incredibly nice people.”