For a few years now at Polk County Public Libraries, we’ve celebrated December as the “season of giving.”

We host events focused on giving back to the community and to you, our patrons. Check out all we have going on this month at Saluda Library and Columbus Library.

Elementary Explorers is our weekly children’s program for grades K-5, at 4 p.m. on Mondays at Saluda Library and Tuesdays at Columbus Library. There is a different theme every month, and December’s is community.

We will make catnip yarn balls and tennis balls of treats to donate to the animals at Foothills Humane Society; fill jars with ingredients for taco chili, pancakes and ranch dressing to donate to Share Thy Bread food ministry; and decorate holiday cards and make homemade Christmas tree ornaments to donate to Polk County Meals on Wheels. Teens in grades 6-12 will also make fleece pet blankets at Columbus Library at 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 to donate to the humane society.

For the third year in a row, we are hosting a holiday movie for the library community at Tryon Theatre! Admission to see “The Muppet Christmas Carol” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 17 is free with a donation of one nonperishable food item per person. Food collected will be donated to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry.

But that’s not all! There are many more programs for all ages, including weekly storytimes for little ones; a cookie swap; balloon creations and a teen snowglobe workshop at Saluda Hometown Christmas; Wrap It Up, where you can wrap your gifts or decorate gift tags and paper; a handbells Christmas performance, performed by students from Tryon’s Seventh-Day Adventist Church school; decorating celebration glasses at our adult craft class; and free popcorn and movies on Film Fridays.

Head to our website for all the information on when and where.

Looking for books to teach your children about giving to others? Here are a few suggestions:

“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein

This classic, the lovely story of a tree that will do anything for the boy it loves, is a great place to start.

“The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need”  by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain

This was one of my favorite book series as a child! In this book, the bear family realizes they have too much stuff and decide to donate their unneeded items to those in need.

“Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña

This picture book tells the story of a boy and his grandma as they take a crosstown bus ride after church to a soup kitchen.

Jen Pace Dickenson is the youth services librarian for Polk County Public Libraries. For information about the library’s resources, programs and other services, visit polklibrary.org or call 828-894-8721.