SEQUIM — Members of the faith community are kicking off the eighth annual Apple Stock with live music, cider pressing and family fun to benefit two local women fighting cancer and leukemia and to help stock a food bank.
This year, Williams Manor at 4043 Sequim-Dungeness Way will host a three-day event starting today at 5:30 p.m. that runs until 4 p.m. Sunday in the manor’s orchard.
Mark Schwartz, host at the manor and co-coordinator of the event, said that while the orchard is about 120 years old, “it still cranks out the fruit.”
Schwartz said pressing the organic apples into cider is a popular way to consume the fruit.
“It’s a lot of fun for people to participate,” Schwartz said.
Guests can get free admission to the event by bringing canned food donations.
Donations for food and cider will benefit Nicole Merrigan and Carol Ohno, two local mothers fighting cancer and leukemia.
Carlsborg local River Jensen also will collect hats, gloves, socks and toiletries for her gift bags for the homeless.
Canned food donations will be distributed through the Independent Bible Church food cupboard in Port Angeles.
Schwartz said the event last year drew 1,000 people during two days.
Coordinators of the event encourage guests to bring a jacket, picnic blanket, canned food donations and supplies to help the homeless.
The benefit also welcomes donations for concessions and cider, as well as contributions of desserts today and potluck dishes Sunday.
The schedule for the event is as follows:
• Today: “Under the Stars and ’Round the Fire” takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with live music, open mic karaoke and a special welcome to Peninsula College international students and their host families.
Food and cider will be served by donation, and guests are asked to bring a dessert to share.
• Saturday: Live music will last from noon to 9 p.m. along with activities such as cider pressing, bonfires, s’mores, beach volleyball, outdoor tic-tac-toe and concessions.
• Sunday: A worship service and community potluck, apple picking and cider pressing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gospel Opry Band from Port Townsend will perform country gospel, Nashville ballads, blues and bluegrass at 2 p.m.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Schwartz at 460-3763 or schwartzme@live.com.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
