Volunteer Susan Ferraro is going to give up her title as "the basket lady" after more than 10 years. When the winners of the silent auction are announced later today (Dec. 6), Ferraro will go back to running Encore books at the Bella Vista Library.
For more than 10 years, Ferraro has been creating dozens of baskets for the annual basket sale, a fundraiser for the Friends of the Bella Vista Library. Although she has had help with the project over the years, lately she has done it alone. It's the kind of project, she explained that needs one person at the center.
All year long, donations for the baskets come into the library. They range from bottles of wine to handmade baby blankets.
All year long, Ferraro brings home the donations and stores them. Eventually, she starts grouping the items together to create themed baskets.
This year, there are 93 baskets displayed at the front of the library. People can bid on them by recording their offer in a loose-leaf notebook. Ferraro believes the Friends group will earn over $4,000.
"It's time to freshen things up," Ferraro said, about the basket project. Many members of Friends are taking a breather, she explained, the group worked hard to raise $150,000 for the new library addition and it took a lot out of the individual volunteers. But they have already committed to donating another $50,000.
"She's our number one, valuable person," Janel Stryker, president of the Friends group said about Ferraro. "She's amazing."
Stryker said she was open to another volunteer taking over the basket program but, so far, no one has stepped up.
Ferraro may do smaller baskets throughout the year, she said.
Her next project will be called Folio, Ferraro said, and that stands for Friends of the Library Income Opportunity. She plans to have small sales going on at the front of the library on a continuous basis, leaving her storage at home free. She'll also continue to run the Encore shop, which is always one of the best fundraisers for the Friends.
General News on 12/06/2017