2020 January-April 2020

GRAFTON-MIDVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY || JAN-APR 2020 || REGISTER ONLINE AT GMPLIBRARY.ORG 7 NOW THAT'S A GREAT STORY! As you know, we love sharing stories. This, however, is a different kind of a story. It's a story about how a Library visit changed a person's life for the better and brought great joy to all those involved... including us. Back in May 2019, Buford Homer visited the Library after the loss of his four-legged, best buddy Gizmo, a black Shih Tzu who traveled everywhere with Buford for many years. Buford was upset the day he arrived at the Library and asked Tami Mullins, Communications Coordinator, for some help looking for a new companion. "We didn't find a suitable pet that afternoon," Mullins said, "but I wasn't going to quit looking. I'm a huge pet lover myself and I just knew I had to keep searching. I have three dogs myself and I wasn't giving up." Two days later, Mullins found a pet on Craigslist and Buford investigated. Needless to say, it was love at first sight. But the story doesn't end here. Now more than 6 months later, we're sure if you live in the Village you've seen Buford walking Bentley around town. Buford not only gained a new buddy that day back in May, but in all his hiking around town, has lost nearly 100 pounds! His last tally has him at a 94 pound loss. But the story still doesn't end there either! After a lot of red tape and hard work, Buford finally got Bentley's ped- igree papers. What did Buford find? His Gizmo was listed as Bentley's sire! Bentley is his deceased pet's son! It was meant to be. We're grateful Buford came in that day in May. It's great to see we can help make such a difference in someone's life. Congratulations to Buford and Bentley. May friendship and good health span many years in the future. Many thanks to Buford for allowing us to share his and Bentley's amazing story. Buford Homer and his best buddy Bentley. It’s the dawn of a new year and although many of us may already have chosen a resolution, it’s not too late to add something that not only makes your life a little better, but makes the lives of others a little brighter as well. In 2020, we’re focusing on kindness in our community. Check out the monthly activities we’ve got planned to make the Grafton area just a little bit nicer place to live. Share your stories of kindness by posting online at #makeKINDNESSloud or #GRAFTONiskind. Kindness is FREE. Help us help others. I AM GOING TO... ask a stranger how they're doing. I AM GOING TO... pay for a stranger's coffee or meal. I AM GOING TO... send flowers to someone just because. I AM GOING TO... thank a teacher for the good work they do. I AM GOING TO... thank a veteran for their service. I AM GOING TO... make time to call an old friend. I AM GOING TO... Check out our focus each month. JANUARY Focus: Midview North Elementary School. Donation Items Requested: hand sanitizer (any size, any brand), Lysol/Clorox sanitizing wipes, facial tissues. Help us replenish important supplies to keep our school classrooms clean and our youngest students healthy this winter season by donating items at the Library throughout the month of January. FEBRUARY Focus: Grafton Salvation Army Food Pantry at Grafton United Methodist Church. Help us provide food to those most in need this winter by donating items at the library during the entire month of February. All items donated will be distributed to those in the Midview school district. MARCH Focus: Just be the "i" in kind. Write a positive message and take a picture of you being the “i” in “Kind.” Look for the special sign like the one to the left on our front window. Take pictures of other members of the family as well. APRIL Focus: Ziggy's Friends. Donation Items Requested: collars, leashes, dog beds, dog toys, dog food and treats. Help us provide for our four-legged friends awaiting new homes by donating wish list items at the Library during the entire month of April. Ziggy's Friends is a non-profit pet rescue organization in Grafton committed to finding homes for companion animals. WE BELIEVE IN HUMAN KINDNESS Tear off a tab each time you're kind. Bring it into the Library and place it on our Kindness Board so we can keep "tabs" on good deeds. Again, make it social and post using the hashtags to the left.