By Bill Petzold
Editor
CARO — The kids get the books, the donors get the beer and an evening of fun, food and great raffle items up for grabs.
Tuscola County residents are invited to take part in a fundraiser to help promote childhood literacy. Great Start Tuscola, in conjunction with Caro Gleaner Arbor No. 106, presents its fourth annual charity auction and Wine, Cheese and Beer fundraiser, scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at Grice’s Banquet Center, 2560 Mertz Road (M-24) near Caro.
All proceeds benefit Great Start Tuscola Imagination Library, a childhood literacy program that provides free books to Tuscola County children.
How many books?
Imagination Library provides books for 1,753 Tuscola County children each month. While the organization runs solely on the volunteer efforts of several people — so there are no administrative costs — the cost to purchase books adds up.
“It’s $30 per child per year, and some people don’t realize it’s every month these kids get a book,” Great Start Tuscola Imagination Library director Susan Walker said. “We’re just trying to improve literacy rates for children in Tuscola County. Every penny we raise goes directly into buying books for the kids.”
Tickets to the event are $25 each, but include a coupon for JJ Jamokes, as well as excellent wines and beers courtesy of Opperman’s Cork ‘n’ Ale, as well as gourmet cheese and hors d’oeuvres by Artigiano of Bay City and Caro as well as hors d’oeurves from K&K Catering by Carole.
“We don’t have dinner there, but we have enough hors d so you don’t leave hungry,” Walker said.
The evening includes both live and silent auctions, with plenty of items up for grabs including an iPad, a touchscreen laptop, a package for four people to enjoy Zehnder’s Splash Village in Frankenmuth (including overnight accomodations) and much more.
Don’t want to attend the wine and cheese event but still want to pitch in to help Great Start Tuscola Imagination Library? Raffle tickets are available for $1, and prizes include a 47-inch smart television, a $250 gift card to VG’s or a $100 gas card. Winners will be drawn at the wine and cheese event, but entrants need not be present to win.
For information or to purchase raffle tickets, call 673-2144 extension 30302 or (989) 550-8283.