Red Cross to hold wine-tasting fundraiser

PRINCETON — Lori Compton, director of the  Bureau County Chapter of the American Red Cross, is forecasting good weather for an outdoor fundraiser at the Steve and Laurie Bonucci home in Princeton.

Compton said the wine tasting event is scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 19 on the lawn of the Bonucci home, located at 303 Park Avenue West. In case of rain, Plan B is to have the fundraiser at the Princeton Elks Lodge. However, she's planning on going with Plan A, Compton said.

Tickets for the wine tasting are $15 per person and are available at the Red Cross office, located at 435 S. Main St., and at the Princeton Chamber of Commerce office, Citizens First National Bank in Princeton and Spring Valley, Citizens First State Bank in Walnut and the Peoples National Bank in Sheffield. Pre-event ticket purchases aren't required but would be helpful for planning, Compton said.

The evening will include sample beers and wines provided by the Bureau Creek Vineyards, with  hors d'oeuvres  provided by  local caterers, Compton. Jazz entertainment will be provided by Tommy and The Nitecaps. There will also be a wine pull and raffles. The three raffle prizes will be dinner for two at ZBest in Sheffield, a night's stay at the Chestnut Street Inn bed and breakfast in Sheffield, and a piece of jewelry from the Expressions jewelry store in the Quad Cities. People do not have to be present to win, Compton said. 

All proceeds from the evening will go to the local Red Cross Chapter. Also a portion of any orders for Bureau Creek Vineyards will also go to the Red Cross, Compton said.

The local Red Cross gets about 30 percent of its budget from United Way and the other 70 percent from public donations, Compton said. The Red Cross receives no state or federal money. To help support its services, the local chapter does annual mailings and has about four fundraisers a year, including the June 19 wine tasting.

The Red Cross plays an important part in the safety and well-being of Bureau County, Compton said. This past year, the chapter provided health and safety classes for more than 800 people in the county. The chapter also provided disaster assistance for nine family fires, affecting 22 victims. The Red Cross also gave out 80 clean-up kits to Bureau County residents following last fall’s heavy rains and flooding. The Red Cross also provides emergency communication for families.

Another significant service of the Red Cross is its bloodmobiles. The Mid-America Division of American Red Cross of Peoria provides the medical service and supplies, but the local Red Cross Chapter handles all the volunteer work and telemarketing that goes into each blood drive.

“Volunteerism is an important part of life. If it weren’t for the volunteers and the generous donations from the public, the Bureau County Red Cross Chapter could not exist,” Compton said. “There’s always a need out there, and it’s good to be part of helping to meet those needs.”