Meet our Partners: People's Food Co-Op helps build the 'Third Place'
This week, the People's Food Co-Op (PFC) will be at Thursdays on First & 3rd (TOF) showing their support for building a vibrant downtown community and educating attendees on what they bring to the table. Take a look at what they have to say about being a part of Thursdays on First & 3rd, and visit their booth during the evening performances near the First Ave Stage.
"It’s easy to see why People’s Food Co-op and Thursdays on First & 3rd have natural synergy. With parallel missions like supporting local food and being vibrant social hubs, the two easily mirror one another. TOF has the ability to reach a significant portion of the city and connect them with nearby vendors and area businesses. Supporting small businesses and representing the community is the core of what the co-op is about, making sponsorship a logical fit, and the bonds and partnerships forged between area businesses are what make events like Thursdays on First & 3rd possible.
"Furthermore, PFC & TOF strive to establish a sense of closeness within a busy and growing Rochester. Ray Oldenburg, a renowned urban sociologist, notes that the modern era greatly requires “the means for people to gather easily, inexpensively, regularly, and pleasurably”.
"He continues by describing this concept of a “third place” or an informal public meeting place. “The phrase ‘third places’ derives from considering our homes to be the ‘first’ places in our lives, and our work places the ‘second’,” says Oldenberg.
"Striving to restore these lost ‘third places’, People’s Food Co-op aims to curate community connection through several means. From featuring locally-sourced products that support our neighbors, to holding classes that educate our members and shoppers, to sponsoring events that make Rochester a great place to live; building community is essential to our mission.
"Both PFC and TOF focus on illustrating all of the amenities that downtown Rochester has to offer. Our involvement with TOF began in 2013, when RDA’s vision for a local food and music festival came to fruition. We’re elated to be a part of Thursdays on First for another year."
Thursdays on First & 3rd is quickly becoming a downtown Rochester summer tradition. With its unique selection of artisan vendors, delicious street eats, and energetic live entertainment, our partners like the People's Food Co-Op team up with the Rochester Downtown Alliance to make Rochester's summer tradition possible.
"Meet our Partners" is a five part blog series highlighting the Rochester Downtown Alliance's partnerships with the community businesses and organization that help make Thursdays on First & 3rd Possible.