Our Mission
To inspire creativity and community by providing a place where the
cultural, civic and economic vitality of Amherst County is encouraged.
To inspire creativity and community by providing a place where the
cultural, civic and economic vitality of Amherst County is encouraged.
COVID-19, the Coronavirus - What Second Stage is doing to help keep our tenants, staff, and guests safe.
In a rapidly changing environment, Second Stage has elected to close our office until the Governor's stay at home order expires - currently on June 10. We ask that during this difficult time you take care of yourselves and your families, and support small businesses whenever and however possible. We've assembled a list of resources about the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) for small businesses and individuals. Click HERE to access the resources.
Shutting the doors for just a week can have a huge effect on a small business - a shut down of weeks or months can be completely devastating. Reach out to your favorite small businesses. Can you purchase gift cards to use when they're back open? Do they have Go Fund Me or similar crowd-funding campaigns? Remember, we may not have it all together, but together, we have it all. Take care.
Shutting the doors for just a week can have a huge effect on a small business - a shut down of weeks or months can be completely devastating. Reach out to your favorite small businesses. Can you purchase gift cards to use when they're back open? Do they have Go Fund Me or similar crowd-funding campaigns? Remember, we may not have it all together, but together, we have it all. Take care.
Our office is open!Our office is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Thursday from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Amherst EATs (Empowering Amherst's Trailblazers) @ Second Stage PostponedWith the ongoing travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 virus, Amherst EATs @ Second Stage has been postponed. We're hoping to be able to reschedule this event, and we'll keep everyone up to date on changes.
Applications which have already been received will be kept in our system. We appreciate everyone's patience as we navigate these issues. Please stay safe! 
Mission Statement
To inspire creativity and community by providing a place where the cultural,civic, and economic vitality of Amherst County is encouraged. Values
We believe that continued use of historic structures anchors healthy communities. We believe that access to arts and culture enriches the fabric of community life. We believe that citizen participation makes a difference in the lives of both individuals and communities. We believe that the success of local small business contributes to a thriving community. Please consider helping Second Stage the next time you shop with Amazon.With many of us staying at home during the Coronavirus pandemic, shopping online has become the new normal. Please consider ordering through Amazon's Smile program the next time you shop. Second Stage receives a percentage of your total order, at no extra cost to you. Simply click on the banner above to get started.
Please consider a donation to our Second Helping program. We're helping families in our area access fresh food grown and produced right here in and around Amherst County.
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Our Second Helping Program Returns for 2020, with a $1,000 grant from the Walmart FoundationSecond Stage and the Market at Second Stage are delighted to announce that our Second Helping Program, which provides locally grown and produced food to food-insecure families, will be returning this month. We have received a $1,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to help fund the program for this year, but we could use your help.
Last year, with a $10,000 grant from the Centra Foundation, we were able to feed hundreds of families by purchasing surplus food from our market vendors at the end of the market each Thursday. The food was then donated to Blue Ledge Meals on Wheels, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and the New Prospect Baptist Church Foodbank to be distributed through their existing networks. In 2019 we helped feed hundreds of families in need. We also helped our local farmers, growers, and producers have more cash in their pockets at the end of the market each week. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centra Foundation has delayed their grant process, so we won't be receiving money from them in time to fund the Second Helping Program. This year the need is even greater and, we believe the need will far exceed the $1,000 we've received in the grant from the Walmart Foundation. If you'd like to donate to our Second Helping program, please call Penny at 434.941.0997 or email Contact@SecondStageAmherst.org. 
The Market @ Second Stage opened for business April 9th! Easy online ordering. Click HERE for order form.NOTE UPDATED EMAIL ADDRESS!Our Market will offer drive-through service beginning next week. Click HERE to be taken to our Market page. You'll find links to order forms you can fill in and submit ahead of time, and your order will be waiting for pickup Thursday afternoon between 3:30 and 5:30.
This is a great way to provide fresh, locally sourced food to your family while also supporting our neighbors who farm for a living. Questions? Email our Market Manager Mary Hurst at SecondStageMarket@gmail.com for more info. 
Second Stage Amherst is proud to have earned GuideStar's Silver Seal!
Want to help your local community?
Your donation to Second Stage stays right here in Amherst County serving our friends and neighbors. Second Stage - Creating Community |
Our Board of Directors & Staff
Charlene (Suny) Monk - President - Former Executive Director of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
Michael Dowell, Secretary/Treasurer - Former Director of Operations and Finance at VCCA
Chris Badgett, Director - Director of Choral Music at Amherst Middle School
Joe Blum, Director - Director of Cinematography and Videography at Sweet Briar College
Peter Bryan, Director - President, Heritage Wealth Management Group
David Butcher, Director - Marketing and communications specialist
Laura Gray, Director - Banking/ Simple Country Wellness
Linda Gurtler, Director - Retired CFO and small business owner
Mary Hurst - Retired NASA Historic Preservation Officer
Margaret McCanna, Director - Business Manager, Adult Care of Central VA
John Patteson, Director - Contractor, real estate developer and entrepreneur
Krista Templeton, Director - Recruitment Manager, Home Instead Senior Care
Staff
Penny Hawes, Operations Manager
Melissa Mays, Bookkeeper
Mary Hurst, Farm Market Manager
Michael Dowell, Secretary/Treasurer - Former Director of Operations and Finance at VCCA
Chris Badgett, Director - Director of Choral Music at Amherst Middle School
Joe Blum, Director - Director of Cinematography and Videography at Sweet Briar College
Peter Bryan, Director - President, Heritage Wealth Management Group
David Butcher, Director - Marketing and communications specialist
Laura Gray, Director - Banking/ Simple Country Wellness
Linda Gurtler, Director - Retired CFO and small business owner
Mary Hurst - Retired NASA Historic Preservation Officer
Margaret McCanna, Director - Business Manager, Adult Care of Central VA
John Patteson, Director - Contractor, real estate developer and entrepreneur
Krista Templeton, Director - Recruitment Manager, Home Instead Senior Care
Staff
Penny Hawes, Operations Manager
Melissa Mays, Bookkeeper
Mary Hurst, Farm Market Manager
Second Stage's Second Helping Program was a huge success!
A special THANK YOU to the Centra Foundation, Ruth Maragni, and our local farmers for making the program so successful! The Centra Foundation Grant allowed us to purchase $5,472.00 worth of fresh, local food, to feed some food-insecure neighbors in Amherst County through local organizations: Blue Ledge Meals on Wheels, Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the New Prospect Baptist Church Foodbank.
Interested in being a vendor at the Market? Click HERE for more info.
What's on our Wish List?
A baby changing table! We're delighted to be welcoming more families with young children to our events. In order to make life a bit easier for the parents of the diaper brigade, we'd love a changing table! Have one you'd like to donate? Please call Penny at 434.941.0997 or email: contact@secondstageamherst.org. 
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation awards $6,000 Grant to Second StageSecond Stage has received a $6,000 grant from the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation to complete the buildout of the new coffee shop which will be leased and operated by Baine's Books and Coffee. Additionally, the grant money will enable Second Stage to upgrade the internet connectivity throughout the building.
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Second Stage Amherst named Non-profit of the Year by Amherst County Chamber of Commerce!We're thrilled to have been voted the Non-profit of the Year. Many thanks to all who are helping make our mission more than just words - it's what we live each and every day.
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Second Stage | Amherst is partially supported by
the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts,
the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, The Charlottesville Area Community Fund, the Andrew W. Easley and Anne O. Easley Charitable Trust, the Centra Foundation,
and many area businesses and benefactors.
the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts,
the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, The Charlottesville Area Community Fund, the Andrew W. Easley and Anne O. Easley Charitable Trust, the Centra Foundation,
and many area businesses and benefactors.
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Second Stage | Amherst is at the corner of 2nd & Washington in Downtown Amherst
194 2nd St. | P. O. Box 342 | Amherst, VA 24521 | contact@secondstageamherst.org
194 2nd St. | P. O. Box 342 | Amherst, VA 24521 | contact@secondstageamherst.org