There’s a new puzzle sale coming to Chilliwack.
Avid puzzler Steve Klassen used to love going to the annual library puzzle sale, but it hasn’t happened since before COVID. He waited for someone else to start one up, but no one did.
“I had an urge to get involved in this,” he said.
After speaking with a number of people, he realized people were itching to get their hands on some used puzzles. He approached the library and was told there were no immediate plans to hold a puzzle sale, so he decided to start his own.
The Chilliwack Puzzle Sale is now set for Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28 at Central Community Church.
But it’s not just a puzzle sale, it’s a fundraiser as well.
“I though, ‘This could get some traction and maybe we can kill two birds with one stone – do an activity that the community wants while also supporting the food bank.’”
With the rising cost of food, Klassen knows people are struggling to put food on the table. All funds raised from the Chilliwack Puzzle Sale will support the Chilliwack Salvation Army Food Bank.
“We thought it was so cool to see a member of the community stepping up to bring back such a beloved event, and to be chosen as the charity to benefit from this fundraiser is such an honour,” said Josh Draheim with the Salvation Army.
Klassen is now collecting donations of puzzles.
There are two drop-off locations: GP Home Furniture (44680 Yale Rd. W.) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday; and 46173 Stevenson Rd. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. There will be a bin outside the Stevenson Road location.
“If people are interested in collecting in their complex or in their community and they have a bunch, they can contact me and I can come and pick them up or we can arrange to have them delivered,” Klassen said.
He’s collecting all types and sizes of puzzles, even ones with missing pieces. Klassen is asking people to label any puzzles that have missing pieces with a note on top of the puzzle box.
He said he doesn’t mind puzzles with missing pieces, in fact, he’s quite used to it as he buys a lot from thrift stores.
“I know some people it bugs you, but if you do a 1,000-piece puzzle and you do 998 pieces, you got the same amount of entertainment out of it, essentially.”
So far, he’s collected more than 500 puzzles for the fundraiser sale.
“Steve has put so much heart and hard work into planning and organizing the puzzle sale, and these funds will go a long way to supporting our upcoming Christmas Hamper Program, where we will give out over 1,500 special Christmas hampers to low-income families this holiday season,” Draheim said.
The Chilliwack Puzzle Sale is Friday, Oct. 27 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is hosted by and will be held at Central Community Church (46100 Chilliwack Central Rd.). Puzzle prices will range from about $3 to $8.
People can donate puzzles at the above two locations from now right up until the sale.
Anyone interested in volunteering, and those who have collected a large amount of puzzles from neighbours and would like them picked up, can contact Steve Klassen at 604-798-3013.
Looking for more events taking place in and around Chilliwack? Check out What’s happening Chilliwack in our community section
