We had the most magical and festive Saturday with you all at our Santa's Workshop event! Not only did 347 shoppers show up, but we raised $249 dollars for the Friends of the Library! Considering the purpose of this event is to allow kids to be able to shop for free for their families, being able to raise a little money any way is SUCH an awesome and unexpected thing. If you were one of the adult shoppers that spent actual cash, thank you! Your support helps us to keep this program rolling!

So how did it all go? Well, we sold almost 3/4 of our stock in the first hour! Kids were able to buy incredible handmade goods, toys, decorations, and ornaments with free NMPL bucks they received at the door. They agonized over purchases, added and re-added their items, planned, budgeted, and basically shopped their hearts out!
Elsewhere throughout the library, all sorts of holiday fun was happening! The annual scavenger hunt was a big hit, as was the Book Nook giveaway, and our 4 crafting stations. A team of volunteers were kept busy in the wrapping station, ensuring all the kids had beautiful gifts to give their loved ones. The community puzzle table was a good place to relax, and our photo nook was The Spot for families to snag that perfect holiday photo.

It was an AMAZING event and we're so grateful to the volunteer crafters who have been working all year making items for this event. These items were the first ones gone and they got RAVE reviews from the shoppers. Santa's Workshop is an AMAZING program for multiple reasons, but the main one is that EVERY CHILD, no matter what financial insecurity they may be facing, is able to "buy" gifts for the people they love. This is only possible because of you, our Community Crafters. Thank you for dedicating your time, materials, and talents towards making this event a success.

It means more than you can EVER know.

P.S. Want to Donate to Santa's Workshop?

This is the perfect opportunity to craft your heart out AND have an outlet for all your creations. Donations should be clean, neat, and from smoke free environment and kept away from pets/pet hair in order to be allergy friendly. All donations can be brought to the front desk. This is an annual event, so we accept donations constantly, every year, all year long!
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Need some ideas? Knitted goods, paintings, wood working, cross-stitch or embroidery pieces, scarves, hats, blankets, crocheted animals, resin or polymer clay pieces, homemade home décor, we'll happily take it!

Photos by Jeanna