The Fort St. John Public Library is turning up the heat on its fundraising efforts with a barbecue raffle aimed at raising $30,000 to support its summer reading program and other community initiatives.
The raffle, which runs until July 30, gives participants a chance to win a Louisiana Founder Legacy 1200 Pellet Grill and Smoker. Ticket sales close at 11 a.m. on the final day, with the winning ticket set to be drawn at 3 p.m.
According to library director of services Stacy Haddrell-Flotre, the fundraiser comes as the library faces ongoing financial pressures.
“We do not have enough funding through our basic grants to be able to provide programs,” she said.
The prize was donated by a community member, making it an opportunity for the library to raise money without adding to its expenses.
“This barbecue was donated to us by a member of the community and we found that this raffle would be a great way to help raise some funds towards our programs,” Haddrell-Flotre said.
She said the library has relied on grants and annual funding since 2010, but those funding levels have remained largely unchanged while operating costs have continued to rise.
“The funding to public libraries throughout B.C., with inflation and ongoing increased costs…we have had to pull from our programs to be able to meet our basic operating needs,” she said.
The library hopes the raffle will generate enough money to fully fund this year’s summer reading program, while also helping support other services offered throughout the year.
So far, the fundraiser has brought in about $1,000 through ticket sales.
“At this time, we are hoping with the support of our community and community partners, we can get the word about this raffle spread and see those sales jump quickly,” Haddrell-Flotre said.
Beyond the summer reading program, she said additional funding would help replace the library’s patron computer system and support a range of free programs, including art workshops, daily and monthly activities and the library’s Dungeons and Dragons club.
“All of our other programs help to bring a community together and to provide a safe space for people to gather and be involved with others,” she said.
Although the programs are free for participants, Haddrell-Flotre noted they all come with operating costs.
“We appreciate all of the community support as we are trying to build a more connected and inclusive environment for our community members to be able to meet and gather,” she said.
“Any support you can provide, whether it be through donations of supplies or participating in some of our events or direct donation, is greatly appreciated.”
Raffle tickets are available for purchase at the Fort St. John Public Library during regular operating hours or online through the library’s raffle website.
