Queues of book lovers greeted organisers at the door when they opened the annual book sale last Friday, the first day of the three-day fundraising event.
The steady stream of buyers continued through Saturday and Sunday, and organiser Pam Broadhead says that more than $15,000 has been raised.
“It’s been a fantastic sale,” says Pam, adding, “More people came through yesterday than we have ever had on the last day of the sale, and of course the third day because of the long weekend was a bonus.”
I went along on Friday morning for a photo, and deliberately determined not to take a bag, because I have too many books already. However, the quality of the books, and their tiny prices were just too hard to resist. Everything was organised into categories, so that it wasn’t a jumble of tables to search through to find a treasure. Consequently, I came home with New Zealand and international fiction, sheet music x 4, Tramping in New Zealand, Lauris Edmond’s autobiography, latest editions of magazines for long-weekend reading and a huge edition of Grimm Fairy Tales, ‘with 211 drawings, etching and woodcuts by great European Illustrators’! It was hard to manage without my bag!
I have promised myself that I will donate more than that volume of books back to next year’s event.
Proceeds from this years’ sale go to our local Plunket. Pam says, “They have had funding cuts this year, so needed to come to the community for support, and we were thrilled to help, because they provide so much in support and eduction to benefit our local parents and youngsters. It was such a pleasure to be able to help the young people, as most of our funding-raising benefits older age groups.”
Pam is grateful to sponsors R&R Hiab, the Cromwell Bowling Club for the venue, the many volunteers who make the sale work, and to the public for being so generous.
