Warm and Fuzzy: Hot Chocolate and Alpacas

Apr 30, 2018

$51-100

Byline

Lauren Sanchez, Adult Programs Coordinator, Groton Public Library (Mass.)

The point of the program was to warm up with hot chocolate and meet the Luina Greine Farm alpacas of Groton. The program held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. This was the kick-off event for our community read of "The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living" by Meik Wiking.

Luina Greine Farm came and set up a pen and brought two of their friendliest alpacas for free. We allowed them to set up a table with some of their products to sell. Just inside the entryway of the library we set up three slow cookers full of hot chocolate with marshmallows, peppermint and whipped cream. We had a line out the door for the hot chocolate.

If weather permitted, there was going to be sledding, but that didn’t happen because it was warm that day. The sledding would’ve topped it off, but regardless, it was such a fun day.

Advanced Planning

We were brainstorming ideas for something warm and something with animals, and we thought of the alpacas in town because there had been a really nice article in the Boston Globe about them.

I contacted Luina Greine Farm via email. We set a date, they told us what they needed, and then we just had staff bring in the slow cookers and purchase the sides. It was really easy to put together, partly because the alpaca farm owners were laid back and easy to communicate with.

Marketing

We put out a program newsletter every season, and this program made the front page as our headlining event. We also sent the event info to local newspapers and to the community in an email blast.

Budgeting

Our total budget was about $60. We hosted a game of bingo, and people who participated were entered in a raffle to win a $30 gift card for the Luna Greine Farm store. That was a nice way of saying thank you to the owners of the farm. We also spent $30 on supplies.

Day-of-event Activity

Extra staff had to come in with their slow cookers, and a few of my family members came to volunteer, giving out hot chocolate when it got busy.

We didn’t have the sledding activity, so we set up a craft in the children’s room because we felt like there should be a third element to the program.

This was seriously one of the easiest programs to put together, logistically speaking. Making the hot chocolate was one of the more challenging aspects.

Program Execution

We had 150 participants in the end. We had a lot of positive feedback; it was much loved. It made the front of the local newspaper, and people really enjoyed seeing the alpacas. Lots of people sent us photos of kids petting the alpacas.

Advice

If you have the budget, buy the hot chocolate pre-made and have the slow cookers as back-up. Making the hot chocolate was challenging, but I think it added a special homemade feeling. And maybe add a story time; that was another idea we talked about.