The Zonta Club of Thames Valley is looking forward to another successful Bookarama event this Labour Weekend – if it can round up enough books.
The annual Bookarama is the club’s major fundraiser event for the year, and Zonta members Sue Bowden and Christine Alley are putting out the call for more donations.
Last year, the event raised around $8000 for various charities, scholarships and grants to benefit girls and women throughout the region and overseas. The two-day event saw trestle tables loaded down with thousands of donated, second-hand books, and a crowd of people to match.
“There is often a queue, a whole lot of people there with all their big bags,” Sue said.
But this year, Christine said, they only have around half the number of books they need.
“When we first started, Ngatea never had [a book fair], Paeroa never had one, and Waihī never had one… We’ve got a bit of competition now.”
The pair said novels, historical works, children’s and New Zealand books were the most popular, but they would take any genre, as well as bulk lots like deceased estate books.
Donations can be dropped off at the Paeroa iSite or Thames ANZ, or picked up directly by arrangement.
Help in the form of volunteers is also welcome, the pair said.
Zonta has the assistance of Never Surrender Fitness to move the books to the hall from their storage space at the Thames Stables, and other community volunteers to run the event itself.
“But we’d love some more members,” Christine said.
“We used to have about 40 people – we’re down to about nine at the moment.”
It’s a pretty relaxed, social group, Sue said, with a keen focus on empowering women and girls.
The group gives out regular scholarships for furthering education, for example: paying out for small expenses like petrol and car warrants that aren’t often covered by grants but can make all the difference in achieving success.
“It does feel like it’s making an impact on people’s lives,” Christine said.
“Anything you can do to help, right?”
DETAILS: Bookarama, October 24 and 25, 9am onwards, St James Church Hall, Thames. Donate books at Paeroa iSite, Thames ANZ, or call Althea on 027 217 9222 to arrange pick-up.
