If you’ve been itching to swap out your puzzles, this is the time to do it. The Friends of the Chilliwack Library are now accepting puzzle donations for their annual puzzle sale, which is taking place Feb. 2 and 3 at the Sardis Library.
Complete puzzles can be donated to the Sardis branch during business hours. Each donated puzzle will grant the donor a coupon to get one puzzle at half price during the sale. The puzzle sale will go on, rain, sunshine, and yes, even in heavy snow such as last year’s event.
Even with the snowstorm last year, the Friends of the Chilliwack Library managed to raise an impressive amount to donate to the libraries. The puzzle sale is just one of their fundraisers, and in 2017 they provided the Chilliwack Library with two chairs and two floor lamps ($876), children’s board book and adult paperbacks ($1,000), the Yarrow Library with a collapsing wall unit and projector ($525), and the Sardis Library was able to add to their Christian book collection with a gift of $500.
In addition, the three libraries shared a total of $3,463 toward activities and prizes for their Summer Reading Programs, which The Friends support each year.
Claire Bouchard, one of The Friends and a puzzle sale volunteer, says she is hoping to hear whether the person who purchased the biggest puzzle last year was able to complete it. That puzzle was a whopping 12,000 pieces.
“I hope to have an answer from them during this year’s event,” she says.
Prices range from $2 to $6, depending on the number of pieces and their brand name. So, shopping early in the day can snag some great deals on the “prettiest” pictures. And if the weather is still snowy, Bouchard says, a few colourful puzzles could brighten anyone’s afternoon.
The puzzle sale itself runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, and 3. Those donating puzzles are reminded to keep track of their coupons and bring them to the sale.