Apple Stock benefits local causes

SEQUIM — The apples at Williams Manor and the volunteers of Apple Stock continue to be the gifts that keep on giving each fall season.

Volunteers of Apple Stock 2018 are gearing up for its annual fundraiser with fresh-pressed organic apple cider, live music, booths from local nonprofits and more, with cider donations and concessions that benefit two single mothers battling debilitating diseases.

The event runs from noon to 10 p.m. today and Saturday at the orchard at Williams Manor, 4043 Sequim Dungeness Way, with a canned food donation as admission. Donations go to Independent Bible Church Food Cupboard.

This year’s beneficiaries are Jolinda Creery, a single mother with multiple sclerosis, and Rachel Morris, a single mother with lupus. Donations will help Creery purchase adaptive vehicle equipment and cover medical and dental expenses for Morris.

Mark Schwartz, organizer of Apple Stock and Manor host, said volunteers have two cider presses this year and about three times more apples to press into cider.

The cider is pressed from organic apples grown on the Manor’s orchard that is about 120 years old. To bottle the cider, Schwartz said Dungeness Valley Creamery donated 500 milk jugs.

Last year’s event raised about $5,000 in donations, Schwartz said.

This year’s event includes live music from 12 bands, book signings by local authors Sara Daigle and Stan Osterbauer, as well as booths for local charities that benefit local causes.

Volunteers also are accepting unwrapped toys for children and teens to be donated to the Salvation Army and River Jensen also is collecting toiletries, gloves, hats and socks for the homeless.

Schwartz said the event continues each year “because there are so many people in need.” The event is run by all volunteers from the concessions to the music.

For more information about Apple Stock 2018, visit the event Facebook page titled “Apple Stock 2018” or contact Mark Schwartz at 360-460-3763 or schwartzme@live.com.

Here is the live music schedule.

Today

• 1 p.m. — Bread & Gravy

• 2 p.m. — Joe Schipani, the “Accordion Guy”

• 3 p.m. — Bandwagon

• 4 p.m. — Malcolm Clark

• 5 p.m. — Jonathan Simonson and “Band of Bones”

Saturday

• 1 p.m. — Elwha Assembly of God band

• 2 p.m. — King’s Way Foursquare worship

• 3 p.m. — YWAM Discovery Bay

• 4 p.m. — Tom & Liam Taylor

• 5 p.m. — 4faces

At 6:30 tonight will be “Under the Stars and ‘Round the Campfire” with music by Shane Beeson and Jesse Westwood followed by open mic karaoke and a special welcome to international students from Peninsula College and their host families.

At 6 p.m. Saturday will be a community worship service with Independent Bible Church Pastor Aaron Bacon and the Upper Room Band and a dessert potluck. Organizers ask guests to bring a dessert to share.

For more information, contact Mark Schwartz at 360-460-3763 or schwartzme@live.com.

________

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.