For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”

This small bit of philosophy is the basis for Morgan’s Basket, a community care program through the Bedford Farmer’s Market.

Morgan Wasserman was a lifelong Bedford resident who fought hard against melanoma during the summer of 2002. Attending the Tuesday Farmer’s Market was her stand against the disease, her way of affirming that life will go on. As her illness progressed and she finally became unable to attend, the market vendors sent a basket to her home to remind her of their thoughts. A year after Morgan passed away, Morgan’s Basket became her legacy.

Since 2003, Morgan’s mother, Molly Wasserman, has delivered an average of 20 baskets a year to Bedford residents who are going through hard times. Any Bedford resident can make a request that a free basket be sent out to a neighbor or friend.

“We love the requests. It’s a really important program. What amazes us is how touched people are by such a small gesture, that people in the community care about them,” said Deb Sklar, who helps manage the requests. “Almost everyone writes beautiful thank you notes.”

The baskets are free of charge, and are funded entirely by the donations of the community and by the generosity of the market vendors.

Each delivery is made in a special Bedford Farmer’s Market canvas shopping bag, and is full of local produce, breads and pastries, cookies, goat milk soaps, fish, cheeses and flowers. “Every bag gets flowers!” said Sklar.

The bags are carefully prepared with each recipient in mind, their dietary restrictions, and whether there might be children in the house, so Sklar and Wasserman know to tuck in a few extra cookies.

Although the names of recipients are confidential, the Bedford community is very familiar with the program, and there have been donations since day one, said Sklar.

Baskets are delivered at the end of each Tuesday’s market day. If you would like to make a donation, or request a basket be delivered to your friend or neighbor, contact Sklar at 472-5660 or e-mail morgansbasket@bedford farmersmarket.com.

You will need to provide the recipient’s name, address and phone number, whether they may have food allergies or restrictions, an approximate time when the basket may be delivered, your own name and phone number, and whether you would like to be contacted if your request can not be met this year.

Baskets will be delivered until the end of October. Not all requests can be met, but, with the public’s help, there will always be a Morgan’s Basket available for those Bedford residents who are in need.