Library makes blankets for crisis center

Young members from the community come together through volunteering

Avon Lake Public Library is connecting tweens and teens, between the ages of 10 and 17, to the community through volunteer work.

As part of the Library’s summer reading program, the branch created Craft + Lunch = Crunch, a program designed around creating crafts and having lunch following the activities.

On July 26, the Library held “care packages for the homeless,” where children were able to make tied fleece blankets for Laura’s Home, a women’s crisis center.

The four-part program was planned to get children active in their community by allowing them to make crafts that can help people in need, according to Youth Services Librarian Gina Kromhout.

“This gives teens an opportunity to give back while having fun and learning,” Kromhout said. “And, it helps to provide volunteers for some of the organizations.”

While the tweens and teens were making their own crafts, they learned more about people in need, shelter pets and those serving in military overseas, she said.

The program included, providing snack bags for the homeless, creating survival bracelets for those serving in the military and making toys out of socks for shelter animals.

Volunteering to help out the community is important because it helps to build empathy, Kromhout said.

“A lot of people think you have to be an adult with money to get involved in giving back, but that’s not the case,” she said. “Children make just as much of a impact by volunteering.

“It also helps them to understand why people less fortunate need them and gives them a perspective on what is happening in the world.”

Kromhout said each Craft + Lunch = Crunch program held at the library has been extremely popular, with each being packed with teens.

Nicole Butch, 14, of Avon Lake, has never volunteered before, but plans to continue giving back after having fun during the event.

“It’s fun because I get to create a blanket that will help children who are less fortunate,” Nicole said.

Kromhout said her favorite part of hosting the program was watching the creativity of the teens.

“It’s fun to see the bulbs go off in their heads,” she said. “I also love seeing them make a difference.”

The fleece blankets will be delivered to Laura’s Home sometime in March, Kromhout said.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Eleven-year-old Emma Campbell, left, and Mallory Reynolds, 12, work on their tied fleece blankets during the Avon Lake Library’s Craft + Lunch = Crunch program July 26. As part of the Library’s summer reading program, children between the ages of 10...

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Brothers Pierce, 13, and Gabe DiFilippo, 15, work on the fringes of their tied fleece blankets during the Avon Lake Library’s Craft + Lunch = Crunch program July 26.