GREENFIELD — If you like dining out in Franklin County, the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library has just the raffle for you.
The Friends group is selling tickets for the Taste of the Towns Restaurant Raffle, which has been offered annually since 2019. Proceeds support programming for all ages at the Greenfield Public Library such as film screenings, book discussions, story hours, writing workshops and summer reading programs. The Friends also provide passes to museums, support the Homebound Delivery Program and sponsor the Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest.
Raffle winners will be drawn on Dec. 6 at the winter farmers market. The raffle contains two different prize packages, each containing nine $75 gift cards to local restaurants, making for a total package value of $675. The gift cards are donated in full, according to Fern Smith, co-chair of the Raffle Committee.
“I really want to give a shout-out to all the restaurant owners who continued to show up and support the library with this very special fundraiser,” Smith said in a statement.
The raffle, Smith continued, is “a winning combination” in that it pairs an opportunity to support the library with a chance to dine at restaurants across Franklin County.
“Everybody has to eat and everybody loves food itself,” Smith said.
Last year, the raffle raised about $10,000, selling more than 4,000 tickets, according to Karen Larabee, president of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library.
Tickets are for sale at the Greenfield Public Library, Federal Street Books and online at go.rallyup.com/2025restaurantraffle/Campaign/Details. Alternatively, residents can text friendsraffle2025 to 33100 to get the link. The Friends will also sell tickets in person at Franklin County’s YMCA from Nov. 17 to Nov. 21.
Tickets cost $5 for one, $10 for three or $20 for seven. According to Smith, tickets can be purchased in person until Dec. 6, and online until midnight on Dec. 5.
The Friends group begins organizing and collecting donations for the Taste of the Towns Restaurant Raffle in June, before beginning ticket sales at the start of September.
New restaurants involved in the raffle this year are Dreamhouse in Turners Falls, Zeke’s Bar & Grill in Bernardston and Cocina Lupita in Greenfield, while some restaurants, like Magpie in Greenfield, have been involved since the first year.
The raffle doesn’t only benefit the library, but the restaurants as well.
“I feel passionate about how important libraries are to have in a community,” said Evelyn Wulfkuhle, who owns Magpie as well as Harvey’s in Turners Falls. “I want to support the library, but it’s also a great way to get our name out there in front of people who might be interested in coming.”
Although the fundraiser is a great way to support the Greenfield Public Library, Larabee knows that the aspect of food is a big factor.
“It’s the gift certificates. Nine $75 gift cards, you know, that’s exciting,” Larabee said, recounting reasons why the raffle is popular with so many community members. “Sometimes it’s the food, sometimes it’s, ‘My mother was a librarian.’”
Between the publicity for restaurants and the money that supports library programming, the raffle provides a great community benefit, organizers say.
“It’s just building a community,” Larabee said. “We’re all about building community.”