Red Cross holds charity sale

The Monroe County branch of the American Red Cross will hold its 20th annual book fair this weekend at the Monroe County Fairgrounds Commercial East building.\nThe book fair, the organization's largest and most successful annual fundraiser, offers gently used books, CDs, videos, cassettes, maps, games and puzzles at low prices, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. \n"The book fair has a long history of being an excellent event in the community," said Monroe County American Red Cross board member and director of the Civic Leadership Development Program Helen Ingersoll. "The community really looks forward to it and it's a great fundraiser for them."\nLast year the fair raised approximately $35,000 for the Red Cross. The Monroe County American Red Cross uses funds to provide many community services including disaster relief and armed forces emergency services.\nA large amount of volunteer support is needed to organize the event, said Monroe County American Red Cross Director Carol Bentley. The Red Cross receives donations of used books and other items throughout the year. \n"There is a group of some 40 to 45 volunteers, many of whom are at least 60 years old, who for 10 months are down in our basement sorting through all of these things, boxing them up and getting them ready," Bentley said. \nThe Civic Leadership Development Program is also volunteering to help with activities at the book fair this weekend. \n"We're helping them set up, take down, as cashiers during the event. They always need people there to straighten the tables and keep things going, as well," Ingersoll said.\nBentley said that book donations begin again almost immediately after the fair ends each year. \n"The book fair ends on Oct. 6," Bentley said. "Probably within 10 days we will start getting people dropping off donations of books and, lo and behold, they are some of the books that they bought at the bookfair. They have read them so they are donating them back to us to sell again."\nTickets for Friday's opening night are on sale for $4 at the Red Cross chapter office at 411 E. 7th St. and at any Monroe Bank branch. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $5 opening night. \nThose who donate blood the week prior to the book fair will receive free tickets to opening night. \n"Because of the needed disaster relief caused by the hurricane, we are encouraging people to donate at this time," said Pam Brown, receptionist of the Monroe County American Red Cross.\nJunior Scott Lesht will be volunteering at the book fair as director of operations of the Civic Leadership Development Program and a board member of the American Red Cross.\n"[Donating blood] is a good experience when you know that you are helping save lives," Lesht said. "It is a good feeling to know that you can at least help in the process. I think that is why so many people do give blood."\nBentley estimated that there will be about 75,000 used books, games and other items available on opening day. After Friday, entry to the book fair is free, but volunteers encourage individuals to come Friday for a better selection.\n"It's really interesting to go on Friday," Bentley said. "The thing opens up at two and people start lining up outside the door as early as 9:30 in the morning. They stand outside the door and if you are on the inside of the door when you unlock it, you better stand out of the way because they are going to come running in pulling little red wagons and carrying boxes over their heads." \n-Contact staff reporter Jenica Schultz at jwschult@indiana.edu.