Events Community Orgs Food+Drink
Altoona Peach Fest Fundraises For Local Organizations
annual fundraiser promises family fun and, of course, lots of peaches
Come one, come all! La Peche Community Foundation and The Nostalgic Bean invite Chippewa Valley residents of all ages to attend the sixth annual Peach Fest, located from 8am-2:30pm on June 21 at the Altoona Public Library (1303 Lynn Ave.).
For the third year in a row, all proceeds will be donated to help support The Community Table, Sojourner House, Bolton Refuge House, Beacon House, Chippewa Valley Street Ministries, and the Altoona Public Library.
“We’ve partnered with these six local nonprofits to do some cool things, bring some cool peaches into town,” Adam Oster, executive director of the La Peche Foundation, said. “We’ll get to have some fun and also do some good.”
Oster and his wife Gretchen, owners of the Nostalgic Bean (1403 Lynn Ave, Altoona), started selling peaches for a cause in the summer of 2020 to assist displaced families in Minneapolis following riots that occurred in the city around that time.
The couple started the La Peche Community Foundation soon after, with the goal to raise donation funds for local aid organizations. Oster, who is originally from South Carolina, now drives a truck full of peaches from there to Wisconsin each year for the cause. In the past, he has brought up to 250 half-bushel cases.
Last year, Oster said Peach Fest raised over $11,000 in donation funds. This time around, Oster said he hopes to fundraise close to that same value, if not more. This year’s festivities will include live music by La Rose, interactive games, raffles — and, of course — lots and lots of peaches.
Oster said community members can sign up for pre-orders on the foundation’s website, but that some peaches will be available for purchase on the day of. The price is $31.17 for a peck, $56.90 for a half-bushel, or $1.50 for a single peach.
Visit the La Peche Community Foundation website at https://la-peche-community-foundation-inc.square.site/ for more information. Additionally, anyone interested in volunteering to help with the event can email Oster at adam@lapechefoundation.org.
