Downtown Partnership says ‘thanks’
Published 5:27 am Thursday, May 19, 2016
- TITUS MOHLER|HERALD Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP) Program Director John Burton, left, and FDP President John Miller pause for a photo while visiting with volunteers during the Annual FDP Thank You Party at the Farmville Community Marketplace.
The community flocked to the Annual Farmville Downtown Partnership Thank You Party on Wednesday, May 11 at the Farmville Community Marketplace.
“We had a great turnout,” said John Burton, program manager for the Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP). “We had between 40 and 50 of our volunteers come out … (We’re) pleased to be able to do something fun to give back to our volunteers to thank them.”
Jimmy Johnson, who is on the board of directors for the FDP and is its treasurer, said the party is a good opportunity to serve the volunteers for a change.
“Instead of they have to work for us, we’re working for them,” he said.
Burton said, “(We) just try to take care of our people so they’ll take care of us in the future.”
Among the volunteers present at the party was Terri Atkins Wilson, who among other things, has done fundraising for FDP.
“I love this community, and I love doing anything for it, but it’s nice every now and then for somebody to say, ‘Thank you,’” she said. “So, I’d do it without this.”
Terri Atkins Wilson and Jennifer Miskec, right, enjoy the “thank you” directed to them via the party, as both have served as volunteers for the Farmville Downtown Partnership.
TITUS MOHLER|HERALD Chip Hale provided music during the party at the Farmville Community Marketplace.
Jennifer Miskec, who has assisted the FDP in a variety of ways over the years, said, “What’s great about living in a small town is the social events … and then you have an event like this, it’s just very kind of low-key, and the people are so cool, you have a good time. It’s a good memory.”
Chip Hale, another volunteer, provided music for the event.
TITUS MOHLER|HERALD Jimmy Johnson stops for a picture while socializing at the party. Johnson is an FDP board member and the partnership’s treasurer.
TITUS MOHLER|HERALD Jeff Gore, left, and Anne-Latane Schwabe, pose for a photo during the party at the Farmville Community Marketplace.
TITUS MOHLER|HERALD Aaron Barber and Aurelia Barber, right, enjoy themselves during the downtown Thank You Party.
TITUS MOHLER|HERALD From left, Sarah Wells, Katy Lewis and Rachel Pata — potential future Farmville Downtown Partnership volunteers — relax at the event.
While describing the different things that the partnership does for Farmville, FDP president John Miller said, “Chip, here, in addition to playing the party tonight, is on our promotions committee, and they’re involved in different types of activities that contribute to the quality of life.”
Activities include a monthly music series, a half-marathon and 5K.
The partnership also works to benefit Farmville by improving its aesthetics, recruiting new businesses and also “creating a climate that makes it attractive for people to have a business here,” Miller said.
