This week’s bouquets go to:

From Escanaba Public Library Director Carolyn Stacey:

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote that a “friend is a gift you give yourself.” During National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 20 – 26, the Escanaba Public Library celebrates its gift — the Friends of the Escanaba Public Library.

Escanaba’s “Friends” are a non-profit organization established in 1988 to support and enhance the work of the library. In plain terms, the Friends are your neighbors, the people you see at the grocery store or in church — the people in your town that believe that a good library is worth having and are willing to contribute their free time to make Escanaba’s library better for everyone.

The Friends help the library extend its reach and enhance its services beyond what is possible in the library budget by sponsoring a year-round calendar of free arts and cultural events, promoting community outreach, supporting quality collections and enabling facility improvements.

The support of the Friends is evident in every area of library operations: read a bestseller, enjoy an author talk or concert, it is due to the Friends. Bring in the kids for summer reading or enjoy a walk in the library garden, it’s the Friends. The Friends support digital learning by purchasing new computers and funding subscriptions to online tools such as Mango Languages and Ancestry Library. They have enabled wireless printing and color copies, digitized local historical newspapers, hosted events to support student success, cultivated a teen book club and much more.

During National Friends of Libraries Week and throughout the year, we are grateful for these contributions. On behalf of the library staff and patrons, thank you, Friends — you are a gift.

From St. Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army:

We would like to thank the United Steel Workers Union – WOS for the Hunger Strike for Food Drive.

Under the Leadership of Donna Dalms, the organization gave us a check plus 400 hundred bags of food items to be shared with our missions. This was a remarkable effort during the wind, rain and cold weather, where many of the members and their families volunteered to stand outside Elmer’s County Market for 48 hours to accept the generous donations from the community shoppers. These donations help us provide the many food items for those in need. The drive was a huge success. They have supported many activities such as this for those who work to help others receive monetary and personal benefits. Our community is blessed by their presence.

With many smiles, we say thank you.

——

Each Saturday the Daily Press salutes individuals and groups from our area who have had a very positive impact on the way we live.

We identify our bouquet recipients in one of two ways: from Daily Press news pages and from nominations sent in by our readers.

Mail us a postcard or letter identifying your nomination and putting into detail what they’ve done. Include your name, address, and phone number. Send nominations to Saturday Bouquets, The Daily Press, 600 Ludington Street, Escanaba, MI 49829.

They may also be sent to us by going to our Web site, www.dailypress.net, and clicking on the submit news button. Once there, click on “Bouquets” and follow the simple instructions.