Friends of Slippery Rock Library donate $10,000
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock Community Library’s Friends Group donated $10,000 to the library for the coming year and members celebrated at a dinner Wednesday night.
Fifteen members gathered to celebrate at Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Slippery Rock and present library director Tiffany Frampton with the ceremonial check.
According to Stephanie Ralston, Friends Group president, the $10,000 donation matches their goal from last year, but 2021 was a struggle to raise funds.
“The first half of the year was rough on the group,” Ralston said. “We were happy we could donate the $10,000 because it wasn’t looking like we’d be able to.”
The Friends group has 35 members who help raise funds for the library through book sales, bake sales, raffles and more. Frampton said prepandemic, the group had more than 100 members.
“People are getting older, we had some people move away, as well,” Frampton said. “They almost couldn’t be called a Friends Group anymore, only a handful were participating.”
According to Frampton, 75% of the library’s budget come from fundraisers and donations.
“Fundraisers keep our doors open,” she said. “I was very happy, we can count on the Friends.”
Ralston said she was grateful for the donated, local venue, as well as the core group of 15 members who came to celebrate the donation.
“The core group gives it their all and the community who donate deserve thanks,” Ralston said. “I would be selling tickets in Giant Eagle and people were donating just because they wanted to support the community library.”
Ralston said she hopes to get some more members involved in the Friends Group for the coming year, and they have been brainstorming exciting fundraisers for the future.
“I’m trying to bring in some younger folks,” Ralston said. “It’s an easy group to be a part of.”
