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The Friends of the Chanhassen Library recently held a craft supplies swap, the second event held within the past year. Set up as a way to donate and/or pick up supplies and keep them out of landfills, the swap was even bigger and better than before.
The most recent swap posted impressive numbers:
- 216 people donated items
- 274 people shopped for supplies (112 during the first half hour)
- 77 hours given by the Friends of Chanhassen Library (who also held a successful pop-up book sale of crafting books during the swap)
Some participants shared what they planned to do with their new crafting supplies, such as making greeting cards for sick people and others needing extra support; creating blankets, quilts, scarves, mittens and hats for the homeless, homebound and hospitalized; and providing supplies for youth groups to make crafts as service projects to give back to the community. Library staff members also were able to collect supplies for future crafting events to be held at their branches.
Attendees were enthusiastic about their finds.
“It was an amazing experience. This was a great opportunity for community sharing, sustainable living, new skill development, and cost saving,” said one participant. Another said, “I learned and discovered new crafts to try. It was very fun!”
One widower brought in his late wife’s scrapbooking supplies. He had been distraught about what to do with them, not wanting to throw them away, but he didn’t know where to take them. Adult Services Librarian Linnéa Fonnest assured him that this gift would make many people so happy, that his wife was still giving even after she had gone.
Fonnest was excited about the swap.
“We had great participation from the Friends of the Chanhassen Library in setting up and hosting the swap,” Fonnest said. “I’d also like to thank the Chanhassen Library staff for their support of the event. Extra happy huzzahs go to the 22 volunteers who freely gave us their time for eight full days before pick-up day, sorting the hundreds of boxes and bags of donations.”
Given the success of the first two craft swaps, another will be held at the Waconia Library in October.
