BY CHARLES W. KIM
Staff Writer
An architect’s rendering of the planned South Brunswick Public Library expansion.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The new Stop & Shop on Route 1 donated $1,000 for the library expansion fund on Wednesday.
Store management presented the check yesterday afternoon.
The new supermarket held a grand opening reception last month to benefit the library.
Several raffles were held during the evening of Feb. 4 to help the library raise funds for its planned $4 million expansion.
The library is trying to raise $500,000 of the cost on its own to cover items such as furniture, equipment and materials.
So far, about $360,000 has been raised for the expansion, according to library officials.
The library received a $854,000 state grant for the project. The township agreed to match that money at a rate of 3-to-1 with two bonding resolutions in 2002 for $3.2 million.
The expansion will add 16,472 square feet to the existing building on Kingston Lane.
It will include a new 5,400-square-foot children’s wing that will more than double the present area, according to officials.
In addition to the donation from Stop & Shop, the Library Foundation and Friends of the Library groups are also holding fund-raising events to assist in getting the $500,000.
Last month, the foundation hosted a beefsteak dinner at the senior center.
According to Lorraine Jackson, library director, donations of any amount will be accepted from the public to help reach the $500,000 goal.