24 WEEKLY 2026
AUGUST
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 30 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
EAT LOCAL ON TUESDAYS EXPANDS
SUPPORT FOR BALDWIN EDUCATION FOUNDATION Foundation, along with increasing awareness of BEF’s work and helping donors connect their passions with meaningful ways to give. Eat Local on Tuesdays puts that goal into action in a particularly visible way. What began with one business has grown into a recurring community partnership that gives Baldwin residents an opportunity to support BEF nearly every Tuesday of the school year. More Than a Fundraiser The Baldwin Education Foundation has been supporting students and staff in USD 348 since 2001, providing financial assistance and organizational support for public education. Its mission is to “inspire excellence, incentivize innovation, and create belonging for all Bullpups and Bulldogs.”
What started with one local restaurant has grown into a full month of Tuesdays dedicated to supporting Baldwin City schools. The Baldwin Education Foundation’s Eat Local on Tuesdays initiative now features a different Baldwin City business each Tuesday of the month from September through May, giving residents an easy way to support local businesses while also giving back to students and teachers in USD 348. The initiative originally began with Baldwin City Beer Company and has since expanded to include Gambino’s Pizza, El Patron and Uplift Coffee. Eat Local on Tuesdays 1st Tuesday/month: Gambino’s Pizza 2nd Tuesday/month: Baldwin City Beer Co. 3rd Tuesday/month: El Patron 4th Tuesday/month: Uplift Coffee
On their designated Tuesdays, Gambino’s, Baldwin City Beer Company and Uplift Coffee donate 5% of the day’s sales to BEF. Support at El Patron helps support the restaurant’s annual food contribution to BEF’s “Let’s Taco-Bout Teachers” fundraising event. It’s a creative partnership that manages to accomplish several things at once: encourage residents to spend their dollars locally, support Baldwin City businesses and generate additional resources for local education. The growing program is also representative of the energy Executive Director Kelley Bethell-Smith has brought to BEF since stepping into the position in 2024. Bethell-Smith has identified building more “local-supporting-local” partnerships among businesses, organizations and education as one of her goals for the
That mission takes many forms. BEF’s work reaches students and educators throughout USD 348. During the 2025-26 school year alone, the Foundation awarded 45 Innovative Project Grants totaling more than $37,000 and administered 28 scholarships totaling $25,400 for Baldwin High School graduates. The Foundation also supports programs including Paws to Read, teacher assistance grants, student and staff recognition and other community partnerships. Eat Local on Tuesdays is another example of the creative approach Executive Director Kelley Bethell-Smith has brought to BEF — connecting local businesses, residents and schools in ways that strengthen the entire community. From September through May, supporting that work can be as simple as eating local on a Tuesday. Tuesday is BEF day! Eat & Support Local! Learn more about BEF at bef348.org.
A REMINDER TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS This issue marks the final mailed edition of The Maple Weekly as we transition away from paid subscriptions and focus our resources on expanding free public distribution throughout Baldwin City. We sincerely appreciate everyone who has supported The Maple Weekly through a subscription. Subscribers who purchased a subscription at the beginning of the year may request a $9 prorated refund for the remaining four months by emailing jenni@ baldwinmaple.com. The Maple Weekly isn’t going anywhere — only the way we deliver it is changing.