Friday, August 29, 2008

Book fair!


Today we took a wander down to the New Zealand Red Cross 12th Annual Book Fair at the Te Rapa Race Course.

It's billed as "a fantastic opportunity to buy cheap books that are soreted for category and quality. Our famous $1 room also contains magazines, records, cds, videos, dvds and puzzles."

I love this event for two reasons.

1) Obviously the book bargains to be had! I didn't have long to wander and browse because my beloved was getting antsy (he doesn't "do" books, apparently they have too many words in them) but I did score two excellent condition books that I have wanted for some time; "I know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb and "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger - both just $3 each. I could have spent an absolute fortune but since the boy was with me I had to limit myself. Sigh. They are bringing out new boxes of books each day so I might just have to go back alone and peruse at my leisure...especially on Sunday when they start making drastic pricing reductions to clear the stock!!!

and

2) The Red Cross is one of my favourite charities; the world's largest humanitarian organisation, they are independent of government, and without any political, religious or cultural affiliation. It doesn't matter who you are, what your ethnicity is or which side of a conflict you might be on, Red Cross will help.

But it's not just the "big international stuff" that they do.

For over 75 years, New Zealand Red Cross has been part of our community. New Zealand Red Cross helps over 24,000 people each week. Along with a dedicated team of volunteers, they deliver nearly one million meals on wheels a year, train 70,000 people in first aid and give over 270 primary schools the chance to offer breakfast to thousands of hungry kids. They offer free first aid "People Saver" courses to schools for kids aged 10-12 years, provide hospital transfer services, hospital meet and greet, affordable clothing and household items through the Red Cross Shops and garage sales, Emergency Response Units trained to help in times of disasters, and so much more.

I will always be immensely proud of the 18 months I worked there and how in my own paper shuffling little way, I helped make the world a better place.

And every year when the Palmerston North book fair comes round (which I believe is the biggest Red Cross book fair in the country?) I kick myself that I no longer work or volunteer for the Palmy branch and therefore have lost access to first dibs on the books!


1 comment:

Joanne Rendell said...

Thanks for finding my blog, Kelly. Love your blog...particularly the name! Have a great day.