Legislator Mills’ Hot Dog Roast Events raise $67,077 in 10 years

What started out with a $1 hot dog 10 years ago, turned into 64 fundraisers and thousands of dollars raised for rural library branches in Erie County. Legislator John Mills, Chairman of the Erie County Legislature, was proud to be joined by Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski and Angola Public Library Director Jennifer Page, Eden Public Library Director Donna-Jo Webster, Concord Public Library Director Bridgette Heintz, Town of Collins Public Library Director Abigail Barten-McGowan, Orchard Park Public Library Director Peggy Errington and Boston Free Library Director Lydia Herren to announce that with overwhelming community support his Hot Dog Roast Fundraisers have raised a grand total of $67,077 over the past decade.

 

“When I got into the Legislature, I knew I wanted to find a way to help raise ‘wish list funds’ for the library branches in my district, to help buy the extra items the annual budget wasn’t always enough for. I never expected we’d be raising well over $1,000 at a single event by selling $1 hot dogs but because of the community’s support and donors’ generosity, we did just that,” said Legislator Mills. “I couldn’t be more proud of the partnerships that have grown and I can’t thank the community enough for coming out every year to support our libraries. Ten years of outstanding fundraisers is something we can all be proud of.”

 

President of J. Mills Distributing, a local food distribution company, Legislator Mills said the idea first came to him when he was driving across New York State for his private business. He decided on a hot dog roast, buying the product with his own money, and partnering with Sahlen’s Hot Dogs to use their event grill. 

 

If you visit any of the branches in Legislator Mills’ district, you’ll see the results of his fundraisers. The beautiful hand-painted mural in the children’s area at the Eden Library was supported with these funds, and money raised at the fundraisers was put toward the multi-purpose community room, a much-needed addition at the Angola Public Library. After an extremely harsh winter, the Boston Free Library utilized the funds for much-needed structural repairs and equipment that will help ensure the library is safe to use for years to come. Furniture, materials, and programming, especially for the children’s areas, were also all possible due to Legislator Mills’ annual event.

 

“We commend Legislator Mills for his generosity during the past decade,” said Library System Director Jakubowski. “Libraries are all about community and Legislator Mills has done a terrific job of bringing people together for the good of the community.” 

 

The totals for the individual branches are as follows, with 10 events held: Concord - $11,710; Collins - $10,345; Orchard Park - $10,014; and with five events held: Angola - $5,952; Eden - $5,864; North Collins - $5,231; Boston - $5,088; and East Aurora - $4,077.

 

In the 2005, the Aurora Public Library’s West Falls Branch closed due to reduced funding; subsequently volunteers from the community opened the West Falls Community Library.  Legislator Mills, having represented the area before Legislature redistricting in 2011, wanted to continue to help and held fundraisers for the community library from 2007 to 2015 and raised $8,796.

 

For information on the Hot Dog Roast Fundraisers, or to speak with Legislator Mills, please contact his Legislative Office at 858-8850 or email john.mills@erie.gov.