WS Chronicle

A Book Sale with A Purpose

Every Tuesday and Thursday, volunteers with the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem “work” on their labor of love. For hours, the devoted group sorts stacks of donated books — dividing them into themed categories, adding price-point stickers, and storing them into trailers for the center’s annual Used Book Sale. This weekly effort has now extended to 26 years and has raised over $600,000 to support programs and services for older adults in the community.

This year, a collection of over 125,000 books and associated media will fill the Education Building at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds from May 2 through May 4. Not only are the bargains unbeatable, the cause is quite meaningful. All proceeds go to support the programs and services provided by The Shepherd’s Center for older adults in Forsyth County. That’s what drives the dozens of dedicated volunteers — some who have been with the sale since it began 26 years ago — to devote so much of their time to this major fundraising event. Begun in 1986 as a sidewalk sale at Thruway Shopping Center, the Used Book Sale is now the largest of its kind in the Triad.

Donations are accepted year-round from individuals, schools, libraries, congregations and retirement communities. Once the sale is complete, many leftover selections are often donated to Goodwill Industries, the Salvation Army, or the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission.

“Donations come from the community, and the proceeds of the annual sale goes back into services for older adults in the community,” notes Executive Director Sam Matthews. “You can truly say that what comes in from our community goes back into the community — the ultimate recycling event!”, he added.

The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem will hold its 26th Annual Used Book Sale on Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3 from 9 am to 9 pm, and on Saturday, May 4 from 8 am to 1 pm.

The sale will be held in the Education Building at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. Entrance for parking is through Gate 5 from Deacon Blvd. There is no admission and there will be thousands of used books and other items on hand at exceptional prices.

The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem, is an interfaith ministry that promotes and supports successful aging by providing direct services, volunteer opportunities and enrichment programs for older adults. The Shepherd’s Center relies heavily on individuals for the financial and volunteer support of their mission of serving older adults in the community. During 2012 over 500 volunteers invested in excess of 30,000 hours of service in the community.

Over 10,000 individuals benefited from the programs and services. The Faith In Action Care Program served the needs of over 1,600 individuals and families during the year while responding to over 2,300 transportation, 592 minor home repair and 188 visitation requests. Attendance of over 23,000 was recorded in the wide variety of daily health and wellness programs and activities offered through Senior Center locations throughout the community. The Congregational Nurse and Health Ministry Program has partnered with 58 congregations throughout Forsyth County in serving over 20,000 individuals.

All proceeds of the sale benefit the ministry’s programs and services for older adults in our community. For more information about the annual used book sale, contact the Shepherd’s Center at 748-0217 or visit www.shepherdscenter.org.