Craft Swap Success!

Submitted by Jennifer Forbes    

FCPL's second-annual Craft Supply Swap was an even bigger and better success this year! Thanks to all the branches advertising and collecting for it.

During the month of March, patrons were invited to drop off unwanted craft supplies at any of our branches. The day before the Fair, all the collected craft supplies were carted into the Hampton Park Meeting Room and the sorting fun began! 

Melissa Gunter and Jessica Dillard were awesome helpers and came over to Hampton to pitch in that afternoon, and Diana Wolski helped out the morning before we opened the doors. We set up all along the wall and sorted donations into scrapbooking/paper crafting, drawing/painting, chipboard and unpainted boxes/animals, fabric, sewing, yarn, and ribbon. Outside the meeting room, we posted the rules that during the first hour patrons could each fill a single paper bag with anything they wanted and during the last two hours the patrons were encouraged to take anything and everything they could fit in their vehicle. 

One woman was incredulous that we had full-sized lamps, telling me her house was very dark and these lamps would really help bring more light into the rooms. I watched people who arrived together share extra space in their bags with their friends. The kids were just as excited as adults to grab free supplies. In the end, those who donated thanked us for helping them clear out space at home and about 80% of the donated supplies were eagerly rehomed by our patrons. The remaining supplies were loaded up by Elizabeth and donated to The Place, a local charity in Cumming.