Freeport Area ninth grader Lizzi Smetak has been volunteering regularly at Freeport Area Library for about a year now.
“I just love coming in here,” said Smetak, 15. “It’s a really nice place to spend my time.”
She didn’t think twice when she agreed to spend her Saturday morning helping with the library’s popcorn workshop — an activity stop during the borough’s Freeport Home Town Christmas.
The annual event was hosted by the Freeport Renaissance Association.
Smetak’s classmate, Abby Legin, 16, was asked to volunteer through the high school’s Key Club. A junior, Abby jumped at the opportunity to be able to help out in Freeport’s downtown.
“I might as well volunteer to get connected with my community more,” Legin said. “I don’t live in Freeport. I found it was a good way to connect with people today.”
Legin lives in Buffalo Township. She said she doesn’t get to frequent the Freeport neighborhood too often.
Smetak and Legin worked together at the table with Smetak handling money and Legin scooping the sweet toppings of the customer’s choosing into a bag of kettle corn.
Customers were asked to make a $5 donation to receive a personalized bag. Children were able to decorate their bag to be filled with popcorn, pick a holiday coloring page, receive a free book and a cup of hot cocoa. Kristie Zimmerman, a library assistant, helped oversee the table.
Legin said the strangest mixture of toppings was when an excited customer asked for all of the candy options be added to one bag. This bold culinary choice led to sprinkles, peppermint marshmallows, peanut butter chips, M&Ms, peppermint pieces and more being mixed together.
The library also hosted its annual jewelry sale and thrift shop fundraiser.
“We have the thrift shop year ‘round, but around Thanksgiving, it becomes like Santa’s workshop,” Zimmerman said. “It’s full of holiday wares.”
In addition to these activities, the library set up a self-guided book walk to lead people to different events around town.
Pages of “The Night Before Christmas” were displayed outside of multiple shops along Fifth Street. Some businesses hosted activities. Among them were a gingerbread house contest and pet photos with Santa sponsored by NextHome Design. They were hosted at G&T Sports Cards and Washed Away Laundromat, respectively.
Alex Gigler, of East Deer, came with his friends. He has been keeping an eye out for community events to attend during the holiday season.
“I just like supporting local communities,” Gigler said. “I live in East Deer and we had a light-up night there last night. I appreciate doing these things, you know, trying to get the community together. I wanted to come and support another one.”
Later in the day, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church hosted a pipe organ recital. Grinch and Max hosted a story time at the library, and the day ended with the Freeport Light-up Parade and a tree lighting ceremony.
