Joya Breems — Staff Writer
The Sioux Center Public Library is hosting a Pizza, Puzzles, and Pub night on November 16, at The Ridge Event Hall. This fundraiser will raise additional funds for the library’s remodel project, which includes a large children’s STEM room, 3 new study rooms, an enclosed kids’ computer room, and a renovated programming room.
Teams of four can sign up for $140 to compete at “Pizza, Puzzle, Pub Night” to see which team can drink 2 pitchers (beer or soda), eat a large single topping pizza, and complete a 300-piece puzzle first. Spectators can pay $5 to watch the competition.
The event will feature two segments: a “Sioux Center Celebrity” segment featuring teams of city council members, firefighters, police, and other local organizations competing at 5p.m. Teams from the public can register to compete at 7p.m.
City Manager Scott Wynia looks forward to competing in the event with other staff from the City of Sioux Center.
“Not only is it a great opportunity to compete against the Mayor and City Council team, but also to support a great cause for the remodel of the library and the exceptional services they provide to our community,” says Wynia.
The library has been working hard to plan a fundraiser that will be fun for the whole community and generate more capital to put towards the library’s building project.
“I’m looking forward to the event, I’m excited to see the community come together for a common purpose,” says Kari Ringelberg, adult programmer at the Sioux Center Public Library. “I hope that we’ll be able to raise the money, and that it will be a fun event for all.”
Initial bids for the remodel project came back higher than expected, leaving the library to fund an additional $124,000. In September, the City Council approved the lowest bid, contingent on the library either raising the additional funds required, or cutting costs associated with the project.
“We really feel like every area [of this remodel] is beneficial to the community, so we don’t want to cut out any aspects of this project,” says assistant library director Heidi Ouwinga.
Ringelberg, Ouwinga and other library staff put their heads together to brainstorm a fundraiser and heard that other local libraries had found success in the Pizza, Puzzle, Pub event format.
The library has already done significant fundraising prior to the bidding, and the city council will be funding $250,000, plus an additional $50,000 from past year’s unused budget.
“I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support we have received for this building project. We have already received almost $260,000 in gifts from local organizations and community members. It’s so humbling to see their support,” says Ouwinga.
With $550,000 already raised toward the project, the library is hoping to make up the difference with additional fundraising efforts, applying for grants, as well as cutting costs where possible on the remodel.
“Obviously, it’s never fun to be told we need to raise more, but if planning fun events like this Pizza, Puzzles, Pub event is what’s needed – let’s go!” Ouwinga says.
To donate towards the library building project online click here.
Librarian On The Loose 