• Over 20 service organizations are scheduled to offer information and education.
Star Valley Branch Library is hosting the Community of Kindness Winter Carnival on Thursday, February 29 from 4-7 p.m. at the Afton Civic Center. Over 20 community service organizations will have booths at the event to share information and activities about their missions and the services they offer.
Library staff members have organized the event to bring awareness to the community about resources, services and support that residents can draw upon in times of need, or organizations they can join and partner with to reach out and serve individuals in the community.
“I was born here, but I was not raised here,” shared Lizzy Larson, Branch Manager for the Library, in an interview with SVI Media last week. “As someone who’s moved into the valley, it’s kind of hard to get to knowing everybody and knowing everything and what resources are available in the valley. There is a ton of stuff that, before I did this activity, I had no idea happened here. This event is a place where you can go and see what we have here. If you need help, if you want to do something, if you want to volunteer, this is where you can come and see all of these organizations that we have in the valley that are here to serve people. It is going to be super awesome!”
The event is also a celebration of library patrons’ winter reading accomplishments. To inspire patrons in their reading, library staff created a plan for readers to support Lucky’s Place with the completion of each book during the reading program.
“All winter long, our patrons have been submitting book titles that they have read,” said Larson. “Every time they’ve finished one, they have gotten a ticket that goes towards helping dogs and cats at Lucky’s Place. We have a whole bunch of gifts that we’re going to be giving to Lucky’s Place. What doggie doesn’t need treats? I’m so excited!”
Families can expect a miniature golf course, a carnival created and staffed by the librarians, hourly raffles, guest animals and classes being taught at the event. Raffle items include a set of wireless headphones, an Illustrated Edition of “The Princess Bride,” and a $50 gift certificate to Salt River Cinemas and Skyview Lanes.
The Library staff has also scheduled two fire trucks from the Afton Volunteer Fire Department, two ambulances with Star Valley’s EMTs, and SV Search and Rescue vehicles to be in the parking lot of the Civic Center. Smokey Bear will attend as well.
Other organizations that have been invited to be part of the event include: Lucky’s Place, Cent$ible Nutrition, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), North Lincoln County Early Childhood Coalition, SVI Media, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Bridger Teton Forst Service, 4-H, Azar House, Stand 4 Kind, The Town of Afton, WIC (Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children), the Afton Food Pantry, Horse Warriors, Star Valley Beloved Community, the 2023 Lincoln County Rodeo Royalty, and Lincoln Self Reliance.
“We always want to do things with kindness, and we want to show the community that there is help out there, including us,” said Larson. “We’re also a great resource. A lot of people think that libraries are just books. We want to emphasize that what we are trying to do as a library is, first of all, raise awareness for what the library actually does, that we have help resources. We can proctor college tests. We have computers. We offer health classes all the time. We have Spanish resources and help to take your citizenship tests. In the future, we are going to start offering courses on first aid. I just taught a knitting class last night. We teach homemaking skills. We’re not just books. We are here for you.”
Larson hopes that the event will promote more general knowledge of community service organizations and resources. “You are not alone. Star Valley is an amazing community and it’s a community that wants to help. You just have to know how to find it, so reach out for help and then help others. And, of course, read a book.”
