The time has come to find the perfect piece. Or 1000 of them.
The annual Friends of the Library puzzle sale takes place next weekend. But the walls and offices within the Chilliwack Library are already lined with stacks of brightly coloured boxes.
Friends of the Library volunteer Claire Bouchard has participated in the annual puzzle sale since its inception in the late 80s.
Right from the beginning, "the community has always been really great in providing the puzzles," she said.
On average, the "puzzlers" in our Chilliwack community will donate between 1,200 to 1,500 puzzles during the collection period of January. Last year, they received 1,681.
Claire estimates that they'll have similar numbers this year, but won't know for sure until all of the puzzles are categorized and counted on Feb. 3.
For every puzzle that someone donates to the fundraiser, the donor will receive a 50 per cent off coupon to redeem at the sale.
The puzzles themselves are inexpensive, starting at $1 for children's puzzles, $3 for an average 1000-piece, and up to $5 for larger, or three-dimensional puzzles.
But due to the popularity of the sale, those loonie and toonie purchases add up to generate an immense impact.
Last year, the Friends of Library raised $4,793 from the puzzle sale, "and it all goes right back into the community," Claire explained.
Money raised through Friends of the Library goes toward upgrades to equipment, furniture, toys and programming at Chilliwack's three libraries. The annual puzzle sale, book blitz and quiz night have financed valuable items including prizes for the summer reading clubs, puppets and lego for children's play, new shelving units, holiday decor and supplies, and cozy mats for story-time.
The great team of volunteers will be busily organizing, pricing and setting up next week to make sure they're good to go.
"Believe me, but 10 a.m. on Friday… stay out of the way," Claire laughed. "It's great to see the enthusiasm," but she's seen a squabble or two break out over the years.
Puzzles are available for all ages and all interests, including borderless, shaped, easy-grab and complex 3000-piece challenges that will take up an entire living room.
With the rainy forecast in our sights, a day of puzzling indoors with a cup of tea sounds like a good idea.
Puzzles will continue to be accepted through the end of January. The puzzle sale takes place Feb. 5 and 6 at the Chilliwack Library (45860 First Avenue) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Volunteers can accept cash or cheque only.
Claire would like to thank all of the Friends of the Library volunteers as well as the library staff for their support.
For more information, contact the Chilliwack Library at 604-792-1941.