A good samaritan in the form of local market, Martin's

In a close knit, small town like Cashmere, a majority of community members and local businesses lend a helping hand to the highly praised Cashmere School District. Martin's Market, the local grocery store, and owner Phil Blackburn, are part of the effort to contribute back to the school district.
    "He's been a great asset to the Cashmere school system and the Cashmere community," said Bob Wildfang, chairman for Cashmere School Foundation.
    Many Cashmere residents gravitate toward Martin's Market armed with a grocery list, but the store is more than the familiar spot to gather produce and Lunchables. Blackburn has been giving back to the Cashmere School District via the Cashmere School Foundation and Cashmere Cares since becoming the owner.
    In total, Martin's Market annually donates $2,500 worth of scholarship money to the Cashmere School Foundation. This money is divided into two different scholarships - each scholarship is awarded to a graduating Cashmere High School senior going into two certain fields that Blackburn harbors a personal connection with.
    "They (Martin's) give two separate scholarships. One is the Phyllis Blackburn Scholarship and that's $1,000 for someone going on into the field of music," said Wildfang. "Blackburn's mom was a piano teacher so to remember her, he's made this scholarship."    
    Martin's Market also formed another scholarship for $1,500. The Martin's Marketplace Business Scholarship is for a graduate who plans on venturing into the business field - obviously due to the connection with Blackburn being a business owner.
    "He owns Martin's Market, so he has a soft spot for people going on into the field of business," said Wildfang.
    Not only does Martin's Market contribute to the Cashmere School Foundation scholarship program, but Blackburn has also donated in other aspects for Cashmere students. Grab and Go is a recent program at the high school formed by Cashmere Cares (a partnership between the community and school district) and provides snacks for students to snag before school starts.
    "Phil has also been very helpful in Cashmere Cares," said Wildfang. "They started a new program this year called Grab and Go at the high school..Phil had heard about that and donated $1,000. $500 to go the regular Cashmere Cares and $500 to go the Grab and Go."  
    The Phyllis Blackburn Scholarship and Martin's Marketplace Business Scholarship will both be awarded, along with the series of other scholarships contributed through Cashmere School Foundation, on Senior Recognition Night in May.