A readers’ feast of 20,000 books, including 5,000 children’s books will be available at the Garden House Foundation’s annual charity used book sale, taking place on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bonner School in Mill Bay.
The sale is cash-only, so put some bills in your wallet so you can take home some tomes. Books are mostly between 50 cents and $3 each, with the exception of a special silent auction of higher-valued books, with starting bids of $20. Profits from the sale are added to the foundation’s permanent funds.
Each year annual grants go to three local organizations that support families in crisis and animals in need: Cowichan Family Life, Cowichan Women Against Violence and the Duncan SPCA.
These grants assist with programs such as Children Who Witness Abuse, which provides group and individual counselling for children between four and 18 who may suffer with anxiety, anger and sleep disturbances; a Strengthening Parenting program which looks at how a mother’s own trauma has impacted her parenting skills; the Books ’n Bubbles bus, which offers onboard pre-school literacy and reading programs; the training of youth co-facilitators for a 10-week teen healthy relations program done in high schools; a youth leadership program to address street harassment in the community, medical costs for stray and injured animals and more.
The sale depends on the generosity of dedicated adult and student volunteers; local businesses and organizations; the Cowichan Valley School District; Brentwood College; the Island Savings Youth Ambassador team and Bonner School. Add in the excellent investment management services it receives as part of the Victoria Foundation and strong public support and you have a winning combination that has resulted in the fund growing quickly since it began in 2008.
Organizers Jim and Jackie Barker encourage those who have never attended the sale to give it a try.
“Not only will you see some quality late issue books at great prices, but you will also be helping the foundation to reach $100,000 by the end of this year,” they said in a press release.
Elvis will be in the building as part of Mill Bay’s Good Old Daze display. Also, be sure to check out the foundation’s own award-winning garden gnome and see what is causing the look of surprise on his face.
For more information, please visit www.gardenhousefoundation.wordpress.com or call 250-743-4627.