Women’s Club and Friends of the Library join together for
event
The Women’s Club of Hollister and the Friends of the San Benito
County Free Library spent a rainy Friday afternoon at San Juan Oaks
March 25 for the second annual White Elephant Champagne and
Tea.
The event was a joint fundraiser for the two groups to support a
scholarship program for the Women’s Club and the SBC Free
Library.
Women’s Club and Friends of the Library join together for event
The Women’s Club of Hollister and the Friends of the San Benito County Free Library spent a rainy Friday afternoon at San Juan Oaks March 25 for the second annual White Elephant Champagne and Tea.
The event was a joint fundraiser for the two groups to support a scholarship program for the Women’s Club and the SBC Free Library.
“Last year we had 80 people and I think we exceeded that this year,” said Gayle Jackson, who helped organize the event.
She said the idea for an afternoon tea came from Women’s Club member Vallie Bishop a few years back. Bishop died March 4, so many of the members felt the event was a tribute to her, in some ways.
For the event, the tables at San Juan Oaks were decorated with teapot centerpieces filled with fresh plants, and different colored pastel cloth napkins at each place setting. The menu included tea, champagne, coffee, tea sandwiches, quiche, scones and fresh fruit.
The Oriana Chorale was scheduled to perform as the afternoon’s entertainment, along with some of the students from the San Benito Stage Company’s production of “Charlotte’s Web,” which opens today.
Members of the Women’s Club and the Friends of the Library wore buttons with their names on them to identify them to guests and others. Some guests wore pastel bunny ears to go with the spring theme.
In addition to the tickets, which cost $30, the fundraiser also included a variety of raffle items as well as silent auction items. The members of the Women’s Club and the Friends of the Library donated items, as did some local businesses. Many of the auction items held with the afternoon tea theme, including a variety of fanciful teapots and gift baskets. Some of the raffle items included jewelry, recipe books, picture frames and more.
“This is the second year and it looks so great,” said Nora Conte, the San Benito County librarian.
Jackson said the committee organizing the event had been meeting for several months.
“I’d like to acknowledge San Juan Oaks,” she said. “They’ve been outstanding. They let us hold our monthly meetings here since September. They are organized and have been supportive.”
Conte said she hopes the tea turns into an annual event.
“People really spent the time putting it together,” said Conte, who mentioned the proceeds from last year’s tea went to purchase new materials for the library.
