When Lacey Love was brainstorming ideas for a new fundraiser to benefit Bradford Area Public Library, advice was offered by her parents who suggested the organization hold a food sampling event.
Love liked the idea so much that she decided to stage the Taste of Bradford fundraiser from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Bradford Masonic Center at 625 South Ave. Admission is $25 per person and includes samplings of food and drink provided by nine area vendors as well as a silent auction and cash bar. All proceeds from the events will benefit the library.
In commenting further on the event, Love said her parents, Lisa and Terry Love, live in Pittsburgh and had attended a similar benefit in their community.
“My mom was raving about it and put that suggestion in my head,” Love recalled. “I thought that would be a great idea here because we have a ton of great local vendors.”
Love said the last time the library conducted a similar fundraiser was the Derby Gala in 2015, which supplemented a letter writing campaign for the library.
“We wanted to find an event which itself would be more of a fundraiser,” she explained. “In August, we started our annual Giving Campaign which will run through the end of the year. (The Taste of Bradford) will supplement that campaign, which raises (approximately $40,000) for operating expenses, programming, books, services, technology, story times, the teen book club and performers.”
Love said the library reached out to vendors in Bradford as well as the surrounding area such as Port Allegany and Olean, N.Y., to provide a good mix of samplings for participants.
“All vendors will have a table at the event and will provide bite-sized samplers from one of their menu items,” she continued. “If you buy a ticket it will give you access to all of that food and drink … it should be a good time.”
Participating vendors are Chu-Lee Gardens, CJ Bar-B-Que & Catering, Four Mile Brewing, Jan’s Pastries, Kabob’s at the Option House, Port Freeze Catering, Tasta Pizza, Top of the Line Catering and The Willows Restaurant.
Love said a number of area businesses and individuals have offered to donate items and baskets for the silent auction, but more are welcome.
“We are still accepting donations for anything — gift certificates, items and services,” Love added. “Whoever has something they think would work, we’ll gladly take it.”
She said sponsors for the event are the Bradford Masonic Center and the American Refining Group, but the library would also welcome additional sponsors.
“We’re going to do a little booklet for the event, so each vendor will get a full page write-up in that. We’re looking for ads for that, as well,” she commented.
Colette Roessler, adult programming and marketing coordinator for the library, said the nonprofit organization “relies on and appreciates the generosity of the community,” including the vendors who are donating their products and time for the benefit.
“We appreciate them for helping,” Roessler said, noting they had reached out to about 40 vendors initially.
Roessler said tickets are available at the library at 67 W. Washington St., as well as at the Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe at 51 Main St.
For more information on the benefit, or to donate, call the library at 362-6527.
