Kind of Like Having My Book Store

I am the Public Affairs Captain in my department at work. Doesn't that sound like it is big stuff? Not so much. It means I help organize fundraising for two big events a year. We raise money to buy backpacks and school supplies for local children. Last year our building donated over 1,000 backpacks. Our department donated the most in the building. Our second fundraiser is we adopt some families at Christmas and fulfill their wish list. That is a fun project.

Right now we are working on the backpack campaign. My fundraising idea was a used book sale. Quite a stretch for me to think of that!!! I sent out e-mails, and more e-mails, and than started harassing people that I know read. On Friday we maybe had 50 books. Our sale was not looking good. Monday morning the books started coming in and coming in and coming in. I did not count how many we had. We were able to fill a conference room for the sale. Day 1, we made around $150. Not bad for a fundraiser. Today is the last day of the sale. I think we will have to have a clearance sale. People do not want their books back.

It has been fun. I learned a few things. My department has more than a few "readers." I can give up books for a good cause. Some people are not happy buying books for just about nothing. Even for a good cause. They will still try to talk prices down. I know! Really! I enjoy helping people find books to read. EVERYONE has Norah Roberts books. Debbie MacComber is a very popular author. People are over Danielle Steel. I am one of those people. Some people do not know what Quality Paperbacks mean. To some people a paperback is a paperback. Shocking right?!!

There is talk of starting a regular book trade at work. I am working on this plan in my head. People will bring in books and trade for new books. One problem with this is making sure everyone in the group understands what like new condition means. I still have germ issues. Even with books.

My goal going into this sale was to raise $300. I do not think we are going to make that. I will be very happy if we make $200 by the end of the sale today. That will go a long way in buying school supplies. This has been a fun, relatively simple way to raise money. Beats shoving meat into a frito bag for walking tacos.