Thriving books campaign is a ‘social gathering’

Thousands of people dropped off bags and boxes of books during the 20th annual Times Colonist Book Drive on Saturday.

“It’s been lined up all morning,” said veteran volunteer co-ordinator Bob Taylor.

Despite a constant flow of traffic that Taylor said, at one point, stretched from the Victoria Curling Club on Quadra Street to Tolmie Avenue, drop-offs were processed quickly and efficiently by a loyal army of volunteers.

“The response to this has grown every year,” Taylor said. “It’s become as much of a social gathering as a book drive.”

Since 1998, the people who donate, volunteer and shop at the book sale have raised $4.7 million — including $1.8 million in matching funds from the provincial government through Decoda Literacy Solutions.

The money has been distributed to schools and non-profits doing literacy work on Vancouver Island.

This year, $272,000 was given to more than 160 literacy organizations and schools.

Marco Joly, 13, said his parents had read about the book drive in the paper. He thought it would be an ideal way to get some volunteer hours for school.

“I was pretty relieved to find out there was pizza for lunch,” the Grade 8 student said with a smile.

Bruce Cousins, the Times Colonist’s director of reader sales and service, said he was impressed by the Central Middle School student’s initiative and work ethic.

“He sent me an email offering to volunteer, and he’s working as hard as anybody,” Cousins said.

Mike Meadows, 49, beat the traffic by parking his white Dodge pickup truck on Quadra and wheeling his boxes of books onto the parking lot in a shopping cart.

The Thrifty Foods manager said his family got together and came up with 10 boxes of books to donate, viewing it as an ideal Earth Day activity.

“We donate them, and then we’ll come back to buy more, and then we’ll start all over again and return them next year,” he said.

While dozens of volunteers wearing safety vests unloaded books from a steady stream of vehicles in the parking lot, Veronica Allan kept herself busy inside, filling boxes with books that will be sorted later.

“I’m doing this because I’ve benefited from cheques from this sale year after year to help my collection of children’s books in schools,” said the retired Cowichan Valley district teacher and librarian.

The book drop-off continues from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at 1952 Quadra St. The club’s parking lot is accessible by turning onto Pembroke Street from Quadra or Blanshard streets.