AUSTINTOWN — As 2020 gets under way, assistance is being sought to continue the Austintown Farmers Market that has been a success since it began in 2013.

Market director Shannon Lehn said she is pleased where it has gone, but realizes there is a lot of work to do.

“I am looking for help in the following areas,” Lehn said. “Help with editing photos after the market; help with planning events; help with finding sponsors; help with sending press releases; help with managing special market events such as the music, crafts, etc.; and help with setup and day of market at the information booth.”

She said many have offered help in the past, but there is so much going on from June through December that it has become hard to streamline easily what needs to be done.

In 2013, when Lehn got the support of Park Supervisor Todd Shaffer, the first farmers market started with just five vendors.

“Things had grown exponentially since the dawn of the market, as well as my workload,” Lehn said.

Lehn was averaging more than 20 hours a week doing all the tasks the market needed done.

“There’s really no off season because there’s always planning, networking and back office work to be done,” she said. “I am looking for people to help complete some of the tasks that will help the market continue its success and promote it to the community.

“Through the help of our market community, this will also free up some of my time so I can work on finding grants and other funding to possibly bring on paid staff members for the market as well as other benefits to our community.”

“The market is my happy place. So many people love the market and have offered to help. This year, we had monthly markets from September through December, with large events, and I just had one of those light-bulb moments that I can no longer do this alone, so I decided at that point I would ask for help come January, once the markets were done for the season, and get the foundation laid for the upcoming 2020 season.”

She said that anyone who wants to lend a hand can contact her at the Austintown Farmers Market Facebook page.

Lehn also manages the Advocates for Austintown, a new Facebook for those who want to better the community.

“That name came about because I was scrolling Facebook and noticing that people were grumbling a lot about our town,” she said. “I love our town. I think it’s a great town with great people. Nothing gets accomplished when people only complain.

“I thought that if we could have a grass-roots, community-led coalition where the basic rule is no complaining without offering a solution, that would be great.”

Lehn said the group is quickly approaching the 150 member mark.

She is also involved with Keep It Local, Austintown, a concept that highlights the diverse personalities of those in a community that are passionate about growing by offering unique networking opportunities.

“Local businesses are coming together to create and promote Keep It Local, Austintown and by being active in promoting the community, they are in turn receiving exposure and supporters of their own business,” Lehn said. “The questions asked when members join the group have helped to define the concerns of Austintown residents. A few mentioned are need for more events and more businesses. We have many amazing businesses already in Austintown. When we come together as a community and show the support for our Austintown businesses, it will encourage investment from future business owners.

“I have many thoughts and ideas, but it’s not about me, it’s about our community and I look forward to our first meeting so that we can brainstorm and plan for our best future in Austintown,” Lehn said.