A fundraiser has been announced at the Last Chance Bar on October 19 to continue the operation of the Hanska Library.

HANSKA – The Hanska Community Library board is hoping to raise $4,000 to cover operating costs during a Oct. 19 fundraiser, according to President Becky Seidl-Vee.

The fundraiser will be held 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Last Chance Bar.

Local breweries will donate their products for a tasting event. The tasting will cost $10 per person.

Seidl-Vee said that the proposed library budget for 2025 is $36,879.

“So some of the items we would like to put the money toward is programs, particularly the Hanska Helpers (program),” She said.

The program is centered around neighboring children helping the elderly rake leaves, pick up walnuts and doing chores. The kids will then be recognized for their hours volunteering and at the end of the season the library will have a party for those who volunteered.

The function of the program is to teach children how it feels to help othersfamilies, or individuals in town; the library is a wonderful place that has grown,” Seidl-Vee said. “Angela has put together the board and we all work together and have established a new program, starting this week, which is kids volunteering to help folks with yard work.”

In January 2024, Angela Pick became the library’s director, and along with Board President Becky Seidl-Vee, they have continued the library’s day-to-day operation.

“I joined the library board, because I wanted to help support the library,” Pick said.

“Then soon after, we found out that we had lost the library director, and the city was ready to close it, because there wasn’t enough support. So I volunteered at that time to act as director for free. I had a full-time job at the time, but I’ve moved to part-time and now I am acting director.”

Since Pick and Seidl-Vee have stepped into their roles, they have doubled the library’s patronage in one year. There are children in the community who benefit from the inclusion of after school programs. Pick said that the community of roughly 400 people is rallying with their support.

“What the library means to me, is connections,” Pick said. “It’s a library, we got books available, but more than that, everyday after school the kids get off the bus, walk down and come to the library. They check in with me, tell me about their day. We usually have fruits and other snacks available, we sit down and it’s about connections. I’m helping them connect to other people in the community. It’s an essential community space that is welcoming to everyone. Allowing them to connect in ways they weren’t able before. They all go to different schools, but they’re Hanska kids.” , while making meaningful connections in the community.

“Because we don’t have any other form of entertainment, or activities for