Last month the Berks Book Bonanza drew mobs of people who filled up bags and boxes with reading material. And those purchases really added up.
Organizers of the Book Bonanza announced Monday that the group plans to distribute $40,000 raised through the sale to both the Friends of Berks County Libraries and the local branch of the American Association of University Women.
The Book Bonanza is one of the largest book sales in the region, offering gently-used hardcovers and paperbacks, CDs, DVDs, games and puzzles.
Judy Ellsworth, vice president of the Book Bonanza board, said the $80,000 generated by the event exceeded initial expectations following the success of a mini sale last summer at its new headquarters at the Berks County South Campus in Mohnton.
“The board of directors couldn’t be happier,” she said. “We didn’t know what to expect being in a new location, but shoppers showed up in full force.”
Ellsworth said that while the sale has always been a popular event for county residents and those from beyond state lines, organizers were concerned if the enthusiasm for the five-day sale would remain high. But, she said, the sheer magnitude of attendees on opening day proved they had nothing to worry about.
“We had people lined up on the sidewalk down the length of the building,” Ellsworth noted of the first day. “We were so busy; I don’t think I caught my breath until an hour before closing.”
Now, Ellsworth said the organization is turning its focus to the next sale.
The Book Bonanza is preparing to hold two collections. The first will run from Sept. 8 through Nov. 11, with donations accepted on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The second will be held next spring with hours to be announced later.
Volunteers will be on hand to accept donations at the rear entrance of Berks County South Campus, 400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton. A complete list of acceptable donations is available on the Book Bonanza website at berksbookbonanza.org.
“Local community members donate gently-used materials that outfit the sale, shoppers walk away with great deals and provide a second life to the donated items, and money generated from the sale goes back into the community,” Ellsworth said. “It’s cyclical in a way, and only made possible by the volunteers that give their time and energy to this worthwhile cause.”