“Stepping into Spring”

The Library Legacy Committee hosted a fashion show fundraiser last Friday night to help raise money for the Gibson Memorial Library. The “Stepping into Spring Style Show” was hosted at The Pantry Event Center and highlighted clothing from area boutiques.

Library Director Gabriel Chrisman was excited for the event to bring community members together.

“It lines up with bringing people in the community together and with highlighting different groups of people in that community and letting them all come in one place and enjoy everything together,” Chrisman said.

While timing the show at the end of National Library Week wasn’t the initial plan, Chrisman said he’s glad it worked out that way.

“It ended up ending on library week and it seems like a great time to do it,” he said. “It makes it sort of a nice end to that week and to do something that people don’t necessarily associate with libraries as part of a library fundraiser.”

The style show featured models wearing clothing from The Wishing Well, Hazel Maries, Paisley Rose, Aura Boutique and Lori’s Boutique.

Along with the style show, attendees were invited to buy raffle tickets to enter into basket drawings. Raffle baskets were donated by the Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center, The Library Legacy Committee, Karen’s Crafty Corner, Green Valley Pest Control and Lawncare, Adams Street Espresso, 3 Little Birds, Creston Arts, Shear Magic, Karen Fries, Peg Anderson and Nancy Loudon of Creston Realty.

Baskets were raffled off through the course of the night with the help of Creston High School FBLA students. Through both regular tickets and raffle ticket sales, the Library Legacy Committee were able to raise $2,810, prior to expenses.

“I think that the turnout was great and just the feeling of the whole event was really nice,” Chrisman said. “People had a good time, the food was great, and I think the actual fashion show portion went very smoothly and they didn’t have any major hiccups or challenges. Everyone I talked to enjoyed the event. And it raised money, which made it even better.”

Gibson Memorial Library and the Library Legacy Committee may continue doing non-traditional fundraisers in the coming years.

“I know that, at least based on the response from the library legacy committee, that it’s definitely something that we would consider for the future,” Chrisman said. “I don’t know that we would have it every year but I think it’s definitely a type of event we would have again.”