• Healthy Harvest Market will be holding a grand opening on Saturday, June 13 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the store, 2828 E. 10th St. There will be free samples of signature coffee, pie, and other items from farmers the market supports from noon-2 p.m. From 11 a.m.-noon, kids are invited to cooking demonstration and a tractor photo op. Everyone is invited to check out this great market in the middle of a food desert on the east side! (Where the Pogue’s Run Grocer used to be.)
• The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) recently awarded 25 Indianapolis minority-owned businesses $5,000 small business recovery grants. The majority of the grants went to women-owned businesses; half worked in the personal care, restaurant, or retail industries. Congratulations to the awardees!
• The Benton House Book Sale is a go! The sale will be held July 17-19 at the Benton House, 312 S. Downey Ave. with proceeds going to support the maintenance of the historic home. Currently, organizers are collecting book donations at three locations: Jockamo in Irvington (5646 E. Washington, inside back door), Front Door Home Design (6101 E. Washington), and at the back door at the Benton House in the deck box. If you have large quantities (more than an armload), please drop them off at The Benton House deck box or contact them at info@thebentonhouse.org to arrange for pickup. Donors are asked to be respectful of the businesses that offer space to drop off donations — don’t make a mess. Please, do NOT donate encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest books, or magazines. The organizers are also looking for volunteers to help lug boxes up from the basement to the sale on July 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. Visit the Benton House Facebook page to sign up to help.
• The Fort Ben Farmers Market takes place every Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at 9230 Memorial Park Drive in Lawrence. The market offers essential food and information for struggling communities. Patrons are asked to wear masks, practice safe distancing, and only send one person per household. No pets will be allowed at the market.
• Thieves continue to take advantage of the most vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis. The IRS has seen a variety of scams targeting stimulus checks. Criminals are also using the payments as a cover to get personal information and money. Please keep a lookout for individuals who cold call asking for information so they can “process your payment”: the government already knows where you live, your Social Security number, and your bank account number and will not call if there is an issue with the payment. If you believe you or a loved one has been a victim of fraud related to COVID-19 scams, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 1-866-720-5721. Taxpayers can also report fraud or theft to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration online at TIPS.TIGTA.GOV.
• St. Vincent de Paul will hold its final “Stuff a Truck” event on Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 317 N. New Jersey. The non-profit is in need of donations of household goods, clothing, linens, etc. They also need bicycles, helmets, locks, and backpacks for those they serve who are experiencing homelessness. Trucks will be at the location, ready to take your gently-used donations.