More books sought for charity fundraiser

Bev Cowley, Zonta Book Sale Co-Ordinator for Zonta Hatea, stands amongst 200 banana boxes yet to be filled while another 800 boxes are already full. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northland bookworms are in for a treat later this month when thousands of books will be for sale at the annual Zonta Great New Zealand Book Sale.

The Zonta Clubs of Whangarei and Hatea are still calling for donations of books, CDs, DVDs and jigsaws for the region's biggest annual book sale, that will be held at Forum North on July 26, from 7am to 5pm and July 27 from 9am to 3pm.

Whangarei club spokeswoman Irene McPherson said the number of books donated so far was lower than in the previous 20 or so years the event has been run. The clubs have 800 boxes filled and are hoping to fill another 200.

"That's possibly because more people are having book sales and there are more places selling second hand books. We've got to live with that, but it will be nice if we get some more books, jigsaws, DVDs and CDs," she said.

Money raised from the sale goes to local charities with about 1000 banana boxes of books expected to be sold over the weekend. There's also going to be a rare and special books table.

Groups benefiting from this year's book sale include the Salvation Army addiction centre, Sweet Louise breast cancer group, Whangarei Literacy, Women's Refuge and the Books in Homes programme.

Ms McPherson said, in the 41 years Whangarei Zonta had been running, it had given back more than $250,000 to the community.

People can donate books, DVDs, CDs and jigsaws by dropping them off at Discovery Settlers Hotel, Cowley's Hire Centre and Trimac Services - all in Whangarei - or by ringing Betty on 4351972 or emailing whangarei@zonta.org.nz.