Friends and neighbors enjoyed each other’s company as they bid on benches and bought tickets for the gift basket raffle at the Benches for Benefit Gala on July 16. The gala was a great success and raised more than $14,300 for the library! The Bagby Collection and D & M Gem Creations benches tied for the bench being sold at the highest amount, which was $700. The other benches sold for $125 to $500 each.

The gift basket raffle was also a success! About a quarter of the gift basket winners came from those who bought tickets in advance. The raffle featured gift baskets donated by Abby j’s, The First Congregational Church, and Tina Kutchek, Avon Representative, and Slim and Tone. All of the baskets that were put together by donations from the library board were wrapped by BJ Boyd from Consider it Done.

The honorary chair people for the Benches for Benefit Gala were Bruce and Mickie Beckman, Willis and Shirley Johnson, and John and Doris Mochel. The evening featured the Culinary Pleasures of Flavor and More and wine and beer by the Downers Grove Wine Shop. The Steve Hashimoto Jazz Quartet added to the ambience of the evening with their big jazz sounds.

Community members enjoy the wonderful culinary pleasures catered by Flavor & More.

Honorary chairpeople Willis and Shirley Johnson greet auction goers.

A bid is placed on the superheroes bench which was painted by the library’s own Brian Crawford.

Honorary chairperson Bruce Beckman welcomes auction guests.

The bench from Diane’s boutique is bid on by an auction guest.

Auction guests browse the benches on display.

The Steve Hashmoto Quartet entertains with their jazz sounds.