PLUM CITY – The Frank Gilles American Legion Post 365 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 365 in Plum City will host a “Stars, Stripes, and Small Town Nights” dance on Friday, Aug. 21 at the Plum City Legion Hall. This event will be a family-friendly evening dedicated to bringing the community together for a great night out while raising critical funds for much needed repairs to the Legion building.

From 6:30-10:30 p.m., Jessica Bradley from Just Ka’s in Ellsworth will DJ music with a great mix from all decades and genres. Everyone’s invited to get out on the dance floor. Though Midnight Special often provides music for Legion events, party planners wanted to give them a chance to relax and enjoy the night instead of working.

Also featured will be games, snacks by Beav’s Catering, a silent auction, gun raffle and bucket raffles featuring items donated by local businesses and communities. Marlee’s Bake Shop will be on hand with dirty sodas, lemonade, ice cream and sweet treats.

Tickets are $15 per person, $20 per couple or $25 per family. They can be purchased in advance at Molly’s on Main, Plum City Hardware, Clare Repair, Grange Hall Auto or from committee members. Tickets are also available at the door.

Some fun raffle items include a handcrafted convertible picnic table that transforms into two separate benches, Scheels gift certificates, a trapping basket, a vehicle detailing gift certificate from Clare Repair, massage gift certificate from Breath & Bodywork Therapeutic Massage, Eau Galle Cheese gift certificate, and golf packages from Spring Valley Golf Course for both 9 and 18 holes with a cart. They’ll also have fishing gear and a shirt from Ryan’s Sport Shop, a gift certificate toward lessons or grooming from Overdale Kennel and Canine Sports, a patriotic fireside raffle basket, a wooden eagle Freedom plaque, a custom 11x14 acrylic painting, a beautiful lavender wreath from Lavender Bluff Farm, and much more.

New donations are still coming in daily, so there will be even more to see Friday night.

Committee member Katie Stoudt Stoudt said the theme came together naturally since it’s America’s 250^th birthday this year.

“’Small Town Nights’ represents Plum City and the community we’re so proud to be a part of. Plum City may be a small town, but there is something special about the way a small community—and our neighboring communities—can come together,” Stoudt said. “We wanted to invite people in to celebrate, have a great night together, and experience the sense of community and history that exists within the walls of the Legion Hall and throughout the beautiful town of Plum City.

“Ultimately, the theme felt like the perfect combination of patriotism, community, and small-town pride—which is exactly what we wanted this event to be about.”

The money raised will go directly toward the continued repair and preservation of the Plum City Legion Hall. A tremendous amount of work has already been completed, Stoudt said, including foundation repairs, sidewalk replacement, a new floor and hot water heater, new gutters, and insulation of the floors and walls.

“However, there is still a significant amount of work ahead of us,” she said. “Some of the most pressing needs include replacing windows and siding, repairing and sheathing areas of the building affected by rot, ceiling repairs, kitchen updates, and removing deteriorating brickwork from the front of the building. Even some of the everyday necessities, such as replacing our aging folding chairs, are on the list.”

With construction and material costs continuing to rise, additional fundraising has become crucial, she added.

“The Legion has started offering Monday morning coffee for a free-will donation, and it has grown into something really special. It gives people a place to gather, visit, and enjoy one another’s company on Monday mornings. However, the Legion does not have a consistent source of income capable of covering the repairs this building needs,” Stoudt said. “Without the support of Plum City and our surrounding communities, there is a very real possibility that this building will not be here for future generations. These repairs are necessary to keep the Legion Hall safe, functional, and available—not only for our veterans and Legion family, but for the entire community.”

The Hall continues to host annual fish fries, community events, fundraisers, celebrations, and private rentals. Stoudt said the fundraiser is about preserving a gathering place that has served generations and making sure it can continue to do so for generations to come.

The Legion is approximately 110 years old, but the bar area was possibly added in the 1970s, Stoudt said.

“One of our favorite pieces of history came up while many of us were working together to replace the floor in the Legion Hall. We started talking about the lights that still hang on the walls and how many nights—and how many generations—those lights have witnessed. Years ago, the Legion regularly hosted dances, and those walls and lights have seen their share of good old-fashioned small-town dance nights,” she said. “That conversation made this event feel even more meaningful. We thought, what better way to honor the history of this building than to bring back a good old-fashioned small-town dance? There is something pretty special about filling the Legion with music and dancing again, while raising the funds needed to preserve the building so those same walls can continue making memories for generations to come.”

The Frank Gilles American Legion/Auxiliary #365 family in Plum City currently has 124 members altogether. That includes 71 American Legion members, 41 Auxiliary members, and 12 Sons of the American Legion members.

For more information, visit the Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/share/1C4bT5Ykxb/) or reach out directly to any committee member: Tammy Lampro at 715-495-2061, Katie Stoudt at 715-308-4064, Kayla Clare at 715-579-4997, Lisa Roberts at 715-577-0969, Char Fetzer at 715-495-3315, or Kenny Lampro at 715-495-1247.

Additionally, if anyone feels compelled to make a monetary donation specifically toward the continued repairs and preservation of the Legion Hall, we would be incredibly grateful for their support,” Stoudt said. “Donations of any amount can make a difference as we continue working through the building’s critical repairs and updates.”

Please make checks payable to ALA Unit 365. Any donation is appreciated.

“Every contribution helps us get one step closer to preserving this building and keeping it available to our veterans and community for generations to come,” Stoudt said.