Library boosters plan Fall Tea

The Friends of Amherst Public Library will host their second annual Fall Tea fundraiser at 2 p.m., Sept. 15, at the Amherst Historical Society Village Grange Hall, 763 Milan Ave.

Tickets are $20 and are available by calling Judy at 440-823-2823 or purchased at the Amherst Library, 221 Spring St.

Tickets must be reserved by Sept. 6 and are limited.

Proceeds will be used to provide every kindergartner in the library’s service area with the book, “Giraffes Can’t Dance,” according to a news release.

For further information, call 440-988-4230.

United Way of Greater Lorain County hosted its annual Campaign Kickoff on Aug. 16 at Mike Bass Ford, 5050 Detroit Road in Sheffield Village, as a way to get the community excited about the work the nonprofit is doing in the community.

“This is the start of our campaign to raise money for the various services we are able to provide, through our community collaboratives, for the people of Lorain County,” said Ryan Aroney, marketing and engagement director of United Way of Greater Lorain County.

“This event serves as kind of a pep rally for the campaign.”

Aroney said a big part of the event is providing information on the services provided.

“We have all 11 of our community collaboratives here at the event with interactive stations,” he said. “There are different prizes that will be given out throughout the event and the collaboratives will be handing out information on how they help the community.”

Aroney said the event also had plenty of entertainment.

“We will have music being played throughout, and Tim Alcorn, from WEOL, will be engaging with folks over the course of the event,” he said.

“We also have food provided by Lorain County Community College, Emerald Event Center and Oberlin IGA. There will also be raffles for prizes, games and local mascots.”

Aroney said he looks forward to a strong campaign this year.

“We raised around $2.9 million last year, including the campaign and outside funding,” he said. “The goal is to increase and sustain what our collaborations are able to do for the people in Lorain County.

“I want to thank the community for all they have done, and I want to thank the entire Bass family. This is the ninth year in a row that they have hosted us.

“They haven’t just given us the space, they have helped us in the planning and have been a great partner.”

Mike Bass, founder of the Sheffield Village car dealership, said hosting the event is something the company is more than happy to do.

“It’s great to see how the event has grown over the years,” Bass said. “We have used social media this year to spread the word, and I’ve already seen a lot of new faces.

“As a merchant, who derives their livelihood from the community, it’s important to give back and help those who have helped us all these years. We support United Way because they cover so much ground with their partners, and they know how to best help the county.”

For information on how to donate to United Way of Greater Lorain County, visit www. uwloraincounty.org.