Thanks to Dayna Lovell for this guest post! If you have something cool going on at your library, drop me a line. I’m always looking for great things to share.
What do you get when you mix 15 boxes of graham crackers, 10 pounds of icing, ten-plus pounds of assorted candy and pint-size milk cartons? Eighty-five mini gingerbread houses!
As part of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library’s School’s Out Specials (S.O.S.) series, children were treated to an opportunity to make a gingerbread house on this school half-day.
Youth Librarian Dayna Lovell did the planning and shopping and recruited volunteers from both the Young Adult Advisory Board and the Friends of the Library. Volunteers led participants to work stations, kept count, and replenished supplies as needed. They were also available to answer questions and give guidance on the construction process.
Not only did eighty five gingerbread houses get made, forty-five people participated, along with 4 adult volunteers and 2 teen volunteers. One of the best aspects of the program was having the teen and adult volunteers working together. This lent the program an inter-generational flavor. The Friends volunteers gave very positive feedback about both the teens and the opportunity to assist with this type of programming. They have asked to help with future craft programs.
So don’t forget the seniors in your community. Many can be valuable assets, providing extra hands and the experience of older adults, teens and children collaborating together.