Lions book fair collection boxes already overflowing

Although the Lions Monster Book Fair is not until mid-October, they already have as many books as they can handle.

More than 60,000 books have been donated and the team sorting, pricing and packing have as many as they can handle.

Project manager Peter Cresswell said Lions are amazed at how generous people always are, and this year is no exception.

The big collection box at Coastlands was removed last week and the collection points throughout the district have been asked not to accept any more.

The book fair will run for two days on October 13 and 14 in the Waikanae Memorial Hall.

“This is our 21st book fair and it has become a significant Ka¯ piti feature,” he said.

“We always get a huge turnout of customers who replenish their libraries for the next 12 months, or who seek and find the book they have been hunting for.

“The quantity of books for sale is ‘mind-blowing’ and as always, there are titles to suit everyone.

“Some sports gems are All Blacks v Lions and The Jersey — What it Means (Palenski), Richie McCaw The Open side, (Greg McGee), Jonah Lomu My Story and Meads (Brian Turner).

“There are also hundreds of military titles, biographies, hardback and paperback fiction, health, poetry, music, cooking, gardening, travel and children’s books and puzzles.

“For each of the last 21 years Lions have donated in excess of $35,000 to local organisations and more than $600,000 has been raised since the project started in 1998.

“If this year is as successful, it will bring the total close to $650,000.”

This year’s recipients will be the June Oakley Memorial Trust, The Malaghan Institute, Birthright, Kenakena School, Whareroa Farm Trust, Wellington Free Ambulance, Kapiti Women’s Centre, The Waikanae Museum, The Shed Project, Gillies McIndoe Research Institute and the New Children’s Hospital Wellington Playground Fund.