LAWRENCE As they continue to dig out of the damage their flower and vegetable market sustained in a May 28 tornado, Karen and John Pendleton were the beneficiaries Tuesday of a fundraiser spearheaded by a number of Kansas City-area chefs.
Jasper Mierabile Jr., owner of Jaspers Restaurant and founder of Slow Food Kansas City, cooked up sausages, sliders and chicken, with proceeds going directly to the Pendletons.
Karen Pendleton, an Iola native, is the daughter of the late Mo and Rose Mary Riley who for many years farmed and raised cattle in rural Piqua.
Recovery remains slow for the couple, the Kansas City Star noted in a Tuesday article.
The Pendletons told the newspaper they are going to close down in August to focus fully on cleanup from the storm, which took out a machine shed, their butterfly house and five of their 40-acre farms seven greenhouses.
Were trying to pick every single flower to get sold so we have income to sustain us later in the year, she told the Star. And being busy has kept our minds off other things we dont want to think about.
The couple plans to offer vegetables next year, but theyve already decided to forgo this years fall pumpkin season, fall butterfly attraction and Christmastime open house.
The Pendletons, who are approaching retirement age, may even revert the farm back to its roots: in the 1980s it was only open to the public six weeks a year.
We are living in limbo right now, Karen Pendleton said. We cant make decisions until we know about insurance.
While their specialty crops and greenhouses were not insured, the major structures were. Theyre waiting on a decision from their insurer, the Star reported.
Were very blessed with lots of good friends and lots of good customers, John Pendleton said.
Mierabile told the Star the fundraiser carried a two-fold purpose: one, to raise funds for what he considers an invaluable ally for him and other restaurateurs, and more than anything let them know the community is behind them and we want them to go back in business.