Education & Outreach
We’re All About Community. For more than 20 years, The Merc’s Education & Outreach Department has been out in our community teaching people about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. You can find us in preschools and senior centers, at civic clubs and KU classes. Each year our programming touches the lives of thousands of community members. Click the Outreach Overview page on the left to learn more or browse through their latest posts below.
Travel to Morocco with Chef Nancy Stark on Tuesday, May 22 in her All New Vegetarian Moroccan class. Chef Nancy will tantalize your tongue with sweet and savory tastes from this exotic land. Learn about Harissa and sample freshly baked Moroccan Anise Bre...
Looking for a special way to celebrate Mother's Day? Learn how to prepare A Very Special Mother's Day Brunch or treat your mom on May 5th with Chef Paige at this fabulous cooking class. Chef Paige will delight you with French-style Baked...
Chef Nancy Stark's Three Great Global Sandwiches class will make the old PB&J seem unsatisfying. Explore the world (and your palate!) on Tuesday, May 1, and discover the tastes of Vietnam, Mexico, and the Middle East. If you love a great...
Recently, Chef Paige Vandegrift dazzled us with her sweet and savory French tarts. Her comprehensive understanding of how to make fantastic tart dough formed the basis for her culinary magic. Her crust is somehow both sturdy and delicate all at once, bot...
Spring is in full swing. The Lawrence Farmer’s Market has begun, many CSA produce shares are being harvested, and an array of community and backyard gardens are in full sprout. What an exciting time of year to enjoy fresh vegetables. We...
Education & Outreach Programs at The Merc
Knowledge is Healthy
At The Merc, community outreach is at the heart of our mission. For over 20 years our Education & Outreach Department has been out in our community teaching and serving a diverse population, from preschoolers to seniors, high school students to university faculty and staff, service organizations and community clubs. Each year our Education & Outreach staff touches the lives of thousands of community members. There is no cost to schools and service groups for our programs.
We’ll Come to You
We’re happy to meet with groups who want to learn more about healthy eating and cooking, local and sustainable agriculture, healthy eating for children and families – and we always bring snacks! Contact us with your interests, and we’ll prepare a fun and informative presentation for your group, club, or class.
Stop in and See Us
We love to welcome groups into our store for tours and on-site classes. Contact us to schedule your tour and / or class led by one of our knowledgeable team members. Visits always include fresh, delicious snacks.
Community Partnerships
We also serve and strengthen our community by serving on advisory boards and steering teams in the broader community. We have been a contributing partner of LiveWell Lawrence since its inception and support the efforts of WellCommons. We serve in a number of capacities in the Lawrence Public School District, and are a proud LEAP business partner (Lawrence Education Achievement Partners) with three neighborhood schools: Hillcrest Elementary, Sunset Hill Elementary, and West Middle School.
Our Busy Education & Outreach Department Can Be Found:
Stop by The Merc's Deli counter for made-to-order sandwiches (hot and cold),salads, soups and fresh smoothies, coffee or espresso drinks.
M-FSunday Brunch:
Sunday Dinner:
M-SatOur pizzas are created daily on our house made crust with only the freshest ingredients. Every morning our skilled cooks carefully choose two types of pizza to prepare. Check back daily to find out what's hot and ready today.
M-Sat
Stop by and we will make you a sandwich made to order using our finest meats and cheeses that we also sell for you to take and make at home. Our choose one of our classic Merc Specialty Sandwiches.
Our salad bar is fresh daily with all of the fixings you'll want. We even make our own salad dressings in house.
If you are on the go or just want something easy for dinner tonight. Grab a favorite today!
Now that it's May and the weather is great, we're able to bring local cucumbers back to this favorite salad. It's got the same bright flavors you've been enjoying, but thanks to Voigts Farms we're adding even more fresh and crispy late spring cucumbers from Wellsville, Kansas. It's time to get reacquainted with this great salad, it's better than ever!
Co-op Calendar events are listed below. To view all Merc events, click on the View Full Calendar link.
7-9pm
Enjoy exotic flavors for a spring evening. We’ll start with a salad plate of Carrot Salad with Mint; Roasted Eggplant Salad with Harissa; and Sliced Oranges with Black Olives. Then we’ll bring out loaves of freshly baked Moroccan Anise Bread to dip into Bessara (Berber-style Bean Puree). We’ll cap off the evening with an extravagant dessert of Lemon Couscous Cake served with Medjool Date Ice Cream. All the benefits of travel to an exotic land with none of the hassles.
Taught by: Chef Nancy Stark
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors
7-9pm
Join Chef Paige for a celebration of the growers who feed us with an early market menu. You’ll be inspired by fabulous Roasted Beet Salad with Yogurt & Mint (even if you think you don’t like beets); Market Ragout of Spring Vegetables; Orrechiette with Asparagus, Peas & Pancetta; Swiss Chart Tart with Goat Cheese, Currants & Pine Nuts (this alone is worth taking the class), and a sublime finish of Rhubarb Streusel Coffeecake. Hooray for the Farmers’ Market!
Taught by: Chef Paige Vandegrift
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors