The latest edition of White Rock Rotary's bi-annual charity book sale was a smashing success.
Rotary member (also White Rock city councillor) Michele Partridge said the sale – held Aug. 23 to 27 at the Peace Arch Curling Club premises in Centennial Park – had some 4,000 buyers over the five days, helping to raise a final sales and donations tally of $64,292.
That was more than 10 per cent more than last year's August sale, Partridge added.
"With the dedication of our enthusiastic volunteers, we were able to offer an impressive selection of 50,000 quality books for attendees to peruse."
Bargains were to be had in all categories, ranging from textbooks and art tomes to historical and scientific non-fiction, as well as ever-popular soft and hard-back fiction in such genres as mysteries, westerns, science-fiction and fantasy and classic
The response from book enthusiasts, which she said resulted in a lineup of customers waiting for the doors to open on the first day, was "a testament to the generosity and support or community members."
Some 400 books were donated to schools and other local charities at the end of the sale.
A new feature, a 50/50 charity draw, raised $2,115 for the club and netted $1057.50 for lucky ticket holder Pat Howard, who said she would be donating some of her winnings back to Rotary.
The club is already accepting donations of books, at the Rotary Field House at the South Surrey Athletic Park, for its next book sale, scheduled for April 2025,
Partridge said 70 per cent of the funds raised at the book sale go to Rotary local community programs, including providing school playground equipment, youth scholarships and support for organizations like the Sources Food Bank. The remaining 30 per cent is dedicated to Rotary International projects which provide humanitarian aid around the world.
