POULSBO — Rotarians across the world were challenged by their 2004 Rotary International president to lend a helping hand in the coming year and a $2,500 check to the Poulsbo Farmers Market will do just that.

The local service organization made the donation to the market formation group last week, becoming the first community organization to make a monetary gift to the cause.

“I just think it’s so fabulous,” commented PFM President and Rotarian Ann Pyles. “The Rotary club itself has a lot to do with sponsoring so many new and different projects that make Poulsbo such a unique place.”

The Rotary’ money will be used to purchase a storage shed and two booths to be used by the market manager and special guests at the market. The event opens July 10 in the parking lot of Tim Ryan Properties’ Valley Medical/Dental Center at the corner of Iverson Street and 7th Avenue.

Besides the Rotary donation, the market has also received $4,000 in City of Poulsbo Lodging Tax money and $2,500 from North Kitsap Commissioner Chris Endresen’s office. Even the market’s location is a donation, as Tim Ryan is allowing the entity to use his property free of charge.

“Tim Ryan had this vision, too, of the downtown and over the hill working together since we’re all one town,” PFM member Cheri Eaton commented.

And the group even recently received its first donation from a local individual — a $500 check.

“Everybody’s just been so supportive,” Pyles commented. “Every day it seems like I have someone walk up and tell me they’re so happy we’re going to have a market and they’ll be there on Saturdays. That’s really what we want to hear.”

The Rotary’s donation to PFM also came at an important milestone for the market, as it was one year ago last week that the idea for a farmers market in Poulsbo was born. Eaton said the funeral of one of the original Scandia farmers was the place where a market to help support local farmers was first discussed. It has since evolved into a tax-exempt charitable organization that is on the verge of bringing that dream to fruition.

“A place for us. A year ago this week, that’s what a group of farmers promised the community of Poulsbo,” Eaton commented last Friday. “That promise is one step closer to being fulfilled (with the Rotary donation).”

While $9,500 so far is a good start, organizers admit that more is still needed. The annual operating budget is estimated at between $15,000 and $20,000, with the largest costs being hiring a market manager and buying insurance. Group members intend to continue making requests to local groups for one-time seed money and also encourage individuals who want to support the farmers market to make a donation.

“Now we need the community’s help for the final stage,” Eaton commented. “Start up cash is needed. If we could get supporters to write a $10 check to the PFM, that would help pay for our market manager and insurance costs.”