Friends of Library bake sale fund-raiser set Nov. 19 in Bude

The Friends of the Franklin County Public Library organization will host its annual pre-Thanskgiving bake sale fund-raiser on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The event, which is scheduled to start around 9 a.m., will be held in front of King’s Discount Pharmacy, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Mississippi Highway 184 in Bude.

“During our previous sale last year, we had lots of donations of baked goods from members and community supporters, and we are looking for that level of support again,” Friends President Nicole Stokes said during the group’s business meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

“The money raised by this and other Friends’ fund-raisers goes back to supporting the mission of the local library in serving the residents of Franklin County.”

Among the offerings to be sold will be a wide variety of cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes and other treats.
Other business discussed during the Friends’ meeting included:

• Stokes said there has been a great deal of interest in the group hosting another community bingo event gathering during the holiday season — just prior to Christmas.

The popular, family-friendly bingo fund-raisers are held throughout the year and features games with door prizes and refreshments served.

The group said it plans to serve soup for the gathering, which has been set for 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8.

A limited number of bingo tickets — priced at $10 each — will be sold at the library’s front desk.

Each entrance ticket entitles patrons to cards for 10 games and refreshments.

Additional game cards can also be purchased during the event.

• Librarian Susan Adams updated the group on efforts to start a local book club and asked those within the organization and community who would like to participate to contact her to let her know there is an interest in that kind of outreach.

“We are also continuing to do virtual book-talks online,” Adams said.

• An ongoing book sale has collected more than $100, with much of that generated during last month’s Homochitto River Festival on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Adams said the books were offered for donations as opposed to set pricing.

• Adams noted 320 goodie bags — with support from the American Legion Auxiliary — filled with coloring sheets, crafts, treats and paperback books were distributed during the Oct. 28 community Halloween event for children.

“Even with thinking we had enough, we probably need to look at increasing that to 400 bags next year because we ran out of what we had on hand,” Adams said.

“This was a very successful program and we’re thankful to everyone that helped us with providing the items for the bags.”

• Discussed involvement by the library and Friends organization in the upcoming Franklin County-area Christmas parades set for Thursday, Dec. 1 with plans to distribute books or crafts to children along the routes during the processions.

The Friends set aside $200 to support the purchase of items for the distribution effort, and would be looking for assistance from individuals — possibly high school civic club members — who would walk and hand out the books or crafts.

• Discussed holding a family movie night in 2023 in conjunction with the Bude Community Foundation.

• Looked at swatches of fabrics Adams is considering using to reupholster the cushions on the older wooden chairs throughout the library. The group also discussed purchasing new chairs.