County Clerks Raffle Baskets, Raise $400 for Charity

When the Chautauqua County Municipal Clerks Association gathered for their August meeting in Westfield, they brought more than agendas and paperwork. Each member arrived with a donated basket, turning a routine meeting into a feel-good fundraiser.

The clerks raffled off the baskets among themselves, with all proceeds going directly to charity. By the end of the meeting, they had raised $400 to split between two local organizations making a difference in their community.

Half the money went to the Sinclairville 76ers, a youth sports organization that helps kids stay active and build teamwork skills. The other $200 supported Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue, a group dedicated to finding homes for dogs in need.

The fundraiser shows how public servants are finding creative ways to give back beyond their official duties. These clerks keep their communities running smoothly through their daily work, but they wanted to do something extra.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't the dollar amount. It's watching people who already serve their community find yet another way to help. These four women didn't have to organize a fundraiser at their work meeting, but they saw an opportunity and took it.

President Susan Peacock, Vice President Danielle Calkins, Secretary Cindy Capestrani, and Treasurer Stephanie Gibbs posed together with the donation checks, proving that small acts of generosity can happen anywhere. Even a routine municipal meeting can become a chance to spread kindness.

Their example reminds us that giving back doesn't require grand gestures or elaborate planning. Sometimes it just takes bringing a basket to share and caring enough about your community to turn ordinary moments into opportunities for good.