The effort to fund a new library in Turlock will come with a serving of tea this October.
The Friends of the Turlock Public Library are hosting a tea and fashion show Oct. 1 to raise funds for a new library in the community. The group has been championing the cause to have a new library built in Turlock, or expand the size of the current facility on Minaret Avenue.
The Fashion Tea fundraiser will be from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at the First Presbyterian Church at 2619 Berkeley Avenue in Turlock. The event will include a tea serving, complete with sweet and savory delights, a silent auction and a quilt giveaway. The fashion show will feature women from the Friends group modeling some of the fall fashion line and accessories from Cindy’s Doodads. Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth and Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa have volunteered to chaperone the models.
"The main purpose of this event is to raise funds for the Turlock Library Building Fund,” said Linda Davenport, the treasurer of the Friends group and one of the organizers of the event. “Currently, the Friends group has raised approximately $65,000 to be used for a new or renovated library in Turlock. We are optimistic that the County Board of Supervisors will approve a much needed 21st Century library to serve the needs of our growing community. For over 20 years the Friends of the Turlock Public Library has tried to address the needs of our local library, which provides children's programs, adult programs and library equipment.”
Turlock’s library was dedicated in 1968 and served a much smaller population than the more than 70,000 people that call it home now. The Turlock branch of the library has the second highest circulation rate, according to Turlock Librarian Diane Bartlett. In addition to meeting the needs of the Turlock community, it is also a regional library, meaning it supports the programs of four of the smaller libraries in the county.
Tickets for the Fashion Tea fundraiser are $25 and can be purchased by contacting Carmen Ingols at 632-6497 or email: friendsotpl@gmail.com.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the new library fund can do so at the donation station at the library or through the mail at Friends of the Turlock Public Library, P.O. Box 1260, Turlock, Ca. 95381.