Graham Library Donation Days and Food Drives - 2nd Quarter 2025

 

Image: A field of tulips with an orange tulip behind the title "2025 Spring/Summer Donation Days Friends of the Graham Library". The white text beneath the tulip reads: Donate your gently used books, CDs and DVDs (no more than 2 shopping bags per household).  We will be having a food drive at every event. The charities receiving the non-perishables will trade off between NOURISH and the Lutheran Church of St Paul Food pantry. April 14 (12 - 2 p.m.); April 28 (2-5 p.m.); May 3 (12-2 p.m.); May 14 (4:30 - 6:30 p.m.); May 21 (12 - 2 p.m.). More dates will be added in June and July. Book sale on Saturday July 26 (10 - 3 p.m.)

Hi Sockmonkeys!

This flyer and post were shared in our Facebook group, but I wanted to share it with everyone else in the group who may not be in there or on that platform any longer. The text below was shared with the flyer in the post:

A flyer for the upcoming donation days at the Graham Library!

Donation Days and Book Sale

APRIL

Monday April 14 from 10-12 pm

Monday April 28 from 2-5 pm

MAY

Saturday May 3 from 12-2 pm

Wednesday May 14 from 4:30-6:30 pm

Wednesday May 21 from 12-2

JUNE and JULY Donation Days to be scheduled.

BOOK SALE

Saturday July 26 from 10-3 pm

If you're wondering what this has to do with a writing group, well, I'll tell you.

Whether you plan to have your writing published, are just writing for fun, or some combination of the two, writers not only need readers, but they need to BE readers in order to learn more about the craft of writing. And, I don't know about you, but I have always been a reader who loves visiting my local library and grabbing books off the shelf or requesting an interlibrary loan for a book I want to read. 

Libraries serve their communities with more than just books, of course. Many have meeting rooms, like the ones our group visits for write-ins and potlucks, which we're able to use for free. They also help people learn computer or job hunting skills and host lots of interesting events, including with authors. There are many more services I'm not listing here, almost all of which take money to keep going.

That's where the Friends of the various libraries and their book sales come in. They've been holding these to support library programming for years. But, unfortunately, it's needed even more now, since the current administration has decided to cut much of their funding to libraries.

The current administration has also cut funding to local food banks all across the country. Food banks that help families of all sizes and types, including seniors and disable persons living on a fixed income (Social Security and/or Disability), are finding it difficult to continue their usual work with the lower seasonal donations this time of year besides these funding and food donation cuts from the Federal Government. That's a big reason the Friends of the Graham Library has paired their Donation Days with food drives so they can help another part of their community in an additional, very vital way.

Don't live in or near Graham but would still like to help? Visit your nearest library and perhaps buy some books from their Friends' sale display or donate some new or gently used books for them to sell if your library is currently accepting them. Consider a donation of another type to your local library foundation. Or, just go in, check out some books, attend some library programs and talk to your local librarians. Check in with your nearest food bank or food pantry and see what they might be low on that you could donate to help them. Or, if money and food are not something you have much to spare right now, consider giving some of your time in whatever way you are able.

April 2025 Quarterly Potluck and Write In Announcement

Image: Dark blue sky background with a few yellow stars in the middle and lighter blue clouds at the bottom. PC Sockmonkey Writer Second Quarter Potluck! is at the top. Text at the bottom in black reads: Sign up form links and more info can be found on our blog. Image in the center looks like a torn out sheet of lined paper with the PCSockmonkey Writers logo in the bottom center and the words "Whether you're writing, editing, plotting or letting a story sit for a bit, please join us so we can connect." above it in black. Upper left corner of the paper a yellow box with the words We're trying something new and this is our second in 2025! Right corner of the paper has a red paper clip. Lower left corner has an open book and lower right corner has a two tone ballpoint pen.

Hello again, Sockmonkeys!

I know, this is a bit soon after the last one, but that's how timing worked out getting a room for the first one and I wanted to hold this one near the end of a traditional "camp" month when more tend to join in, so it's only a month later. The library room is reserved and I hope you'll stop in and say hello if your schedule allows.

Whether you're able to bring food or a drink to share, please RSVP on this Google form to let us know you plan to attend and use this potluck form to let us know the general food item(s) you're thinking of bringing if you're able to do so. (If you have any problems accessing or responding to the forms, please e-mail or message me and let me know and I'll try to get that fixed ASAP.)

 

You're welcome to join us whether you're able to attend the entire time or not, so I hope you'll join us!

 

Event Details:

 

What: 2nd Quarter Sockmonkey Writer Potluck and Get Together

Where: Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library Large Meeting Room

When: Sunday, April 27th, 2025

Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

If you have any questions, feel free to put them in the RSVP form or send an email to PCSockmonkeywriters(at)gmail.com and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible.