Success for a cause

PINE PLAINS — Last Saturday’s Shop for a Cause event at Hammertown Barn drew in hundreds of people, as the fundraiser continued to raise its standards this year in terms of success.

A large tent on the front lawn of the  home furnishing’s flagship store in Pine Plains held live and silent auctions, music and food samples from local farms and restaurants.

“Just look at all the people!� exclaimed Hammertown owner Joan Osofsky. “You can see why we got the tent.�

The event ran from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, with proceeds from the auctions benefiting the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

“Our job is simple: to make life better for everybody who lives here,� explained Jennifer Dowley, the foundation’s director.

Specifically, the event will support the foundation’s Neighbor 2 Neighbor (N2N) initiative, which provides emergency assistance to those in need.

Additionally, 10 percent of sales from all three of Hammertown’s locations (Pine Plains, Rhinebeck and Great Barrington) between Sept. 16 and Oct. 4 will go to Berkshire Taconic as well.

The free event was a great way for local businesses to give back to the community, according to those present. With the generosity of those bidding on the dozens of silent auction items, Shop for a Cause, now in its fourth year, will surely have more and more to offer Berkshire Taconic in the future, Osofsky said.

“It’s such a great turnout,� said Millerton resident John Tuke, who was admiring all the items up for bid. “Everyone’s having a great time.�

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