What a lovely day we had for the Fall for Merrickville event hosted by Heritage Stables on Saturday, October 10th. The sun was shining and the air was crisp, but not too cold. There were plenty of amazing vendors selling such cool stuff. We were there volunteering, collecting donations for our local food cupboard at the entrance.
I was super impressed by the accessibility parking. Not only did they use the Lions Club’s signs and create a drop-off zone, (complete with a chair to sit in while you wait for your driver), but they had a whole section (which was very large) dedicated to accessible parking. And it was enforced! Often this isn’t the case, but without it, the extra parking is a moot point. It was nice to see them take it seriously.
I have been going to this event for a few years now and every year the accessibility gets better. Big shout out to the team at Heritage Stables, especially Farmer Jake. It was nice to witness the drop-off zone being used by people who really appreciated it. It made their day that much better. The parking also allowed more people to enjoy their experience as they didn’t have to walk as far through the grass with a mobility device to reach the event. Thumbs up to the organizers!
Obviously there is always stuff to improve on (nothing is perfect and there is no such thing as fully accessible) but they are definitely going in the right direction. There are also things that are out of their control, which you can’t blame them for when they try to come up with solutions. I can’t wait to see what they do next year! It is so nice when people care enough to listen to suggestions and try to do better. Small things like parking can make a big difference. Sometimes it can even determine whether someone can participate in the event or not.
We got lots of donations for the Merrickville Food Cupboard and appreciate everyone who donated, it is much appreciated. It goes to people who can really put it to good use. We will be back again next year, so don’t forget your non-perishable food items!
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