Pucker up for a pig: librarians hold successful fundraiser
The kiss Tiffany Harkleroad got from Willow the pig Tuesday morning, Aug. 6, was slimier than she expected, but she didn’t mind it overall, especially because it was for a good cause.
“It’s a small price to pay to support the library,” said Harkleroad, youth services librarian at the Butler Area Public Library.
The library started a fundraiser in June, with a goal to raise as much as $1,500 by August. The library broke that goal early, meaning three library staff members would have to kiss a pig at the library’s first “Piggy Party,” so the bar was raised to $2,500. The library ended up raising more than $2,800.
Harkleroad and the library’s executive director, Lori Hinderliter, kissed Willow on Tuesday morning. Peter Bess, assistant director of the Butler Area Public Library, was not in attendance Tuesday, but the librarians played a video of him kissing Cedar the piglet, which he filmed once the fundraising goal was broken.
Hinderliter, who held a carrot in her mouth which Willow ate to her lips, said the kiss was an interesting experience.
“I feel very happy; they’re so cute,” Hinderliter said. “Now I want a pig, but I don’t think my cat would like it.”
Harkleroad said this was the first time the library has done a fundraiser like this, and Tuesday’s Piggy Party was the first of what could be a returning event at the library. The pigs were supplied to the library by Tree Family Party Piggies, a company based in Cochranton. Its owner, Maribeth Lacy, said she travels around Western Pennsylvania bringing her personal pigs to do therapy work and perform tricks at parties.
Following the librarians’ kisses, Lacy demonstrated some of Willow’s and Cedar’s tricks, which included painting and playing the piano. Numerous children and parents in attendance also took turns feeding the pigs and then petting and holding them.
“I saw this and thought this was for me,” said Emily Eldridge, of Butler, who went to the Piggy Party with her 6-year-old son, Owen Eldridge. “I absolutely love pigs.”
