Lenexa Public Market volunteers are more than the friendly faces you see cleaning tables and talking with customers. Volunteers are vital to our mission of building and strengthening our community.
We continue to add new volunteer opportunities and enhance our volunteer rewards program. That means you can volunteer in a fun environment and receive some perks (like free food from your favorite merchant).
Whether it’s to meet new people, enjoy live music or participate in special events, we’re sure there’s something that will fit your interests.
“Volunteering gets me out of my house, out of my little bubble and into the community,” said Heather Harrison, a longtime Lenexa Public Market volunteer. “As someone who works from home full-time, it is important for me to get out of the house for my physical and mental health. I volunteer for the Lenexa Public Market because I really want to see the restaurant incubator concept succeed. Hopefully my small contribution will continue to make the Lenexa Public Market a place where community members and visitors choose to go and hang out.”
Volunteer opportunities
Weekend lunch/dinner volunteers
We would love to have some assistance with cleaning tables, talking to customers and answering questions during our peak meal times. Volunteer shifts are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.
Friday Night Sound Bites volunteers
During our Friday Night Sound Bites concert series every Friday April 1 through Oct. 28, we need volunteers to assist during and after the event. Volunteer shifts include cleaning tables/market throughout the event, talking with customers, tearing down and cleaning up after the event. Concert hours will be adjusted throughout the season to avoid cool spring and fall nights and to beat the summer heat. Volunteer shifts are available any time between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. You can read more about Friday Night Sound Bites.
Family Night volunteers
Every Wednesday is Family night at the Public Market. We’re looking for volunteers who enjoy being around kids who can help set up games (tabletop games, cornhole, sidewalk chalk and bubble machines), keep things clean throughout the event, and help clean up and put things away afterward. Volunteer shifts are any time between 4:30 and 8:30. p.m.
Special event volunteers
With several of our special events coming back this year, we’ll need volunteers to help running check-in tables, communicating with customers, organize prizes, games, setting up, tearing down and cleaning.
Special events for the remainder of 2022 that you can sign up to volunteer for:
- Food Truck Frenzy (Old Town Lenexa) — Saturday, June 4
- PAWtriotic Pet Parade and pet adoption — Saturday, July 2
- Kid Makers Market (Summer) — Saturday, July 16
- Food Truck Frenzy (Lenexa civic campus) —Saturday, Sept. 24
- Sip, Mingle & Jingle — Friday, Nov. 18
- Kid Makers Market (Holiday) — Sunday. Nov. 20
- Breakfast with Santa — Saturday, Dec. 3
2022 Volunteer rewards program
Our events wouldn’t be successful without the helping hands of our volunteers. As a small thank you for volunteering with us, we are now offering the following rewards, dependent on the number of hours and shifts a volunteer has worked.
- Weekend warrior: Enjoy a lunch or dinner on us. We’ll give you a $10 gift card to the Public Market merchant of your choice after you work 10 weekend shifts at the Public Market. Shifts can include the short lunch or dinner shifts on Friday-Sunday, or helping with Friday Night Sound Bites. You must volunteer for a minimum of 1.5 hours during each shift.
- Events champion: If you volunteer at four or more of our large events (listed above), we will give you a $20 gift card to the Public Market merchant of your choice! Volunteer shifts for our events must be for three or more consecutive hours. Shifts volunteered during Friday Night Sound Bites do not apply to this award.
- Public Market volunteer of the year: This title will go to the individual with the most hours volunteered with us during the 2022 full calendar year! The reward will include a Public Market sweatshirt and a $25 gift card to the Public Market merchant of your choice. This volunteer will also be featured on our social media channels and our e-newsletter.
Interested in volunteering with us? You can sign up on the City of Lenexa volunteer portal or you can contact Amanda Albert, assistant manager of the Lenexa Public Market, at [email protected] or 913.477.7517.
Published May 10, 2022