This is turning out to be one for the books, one might say. And the more people can read, books or anything else, the happier we will be.
Our special edition book drive, the 2020 bookless one that we sincerely hope will be one of a kind, is up to $57,300.
The Times Colonist Literacy Society is raising money for literacy work and school libraries. Think of the people who need help with the written word, and you will understand our commitment to this work.
We started the fund in 1998, when government funding cuts hurt school libraries, and over the years have expanded it to include a wide variety of literacy-related endeavours.
We were afraid that we had hit a wall this year, however, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to postpone and then cancel our annual book drive and sale.
But literacy always matters, especially in an economic downturn like this, so we came up with another plan.
That $57,300 sounds great — but in 2019, our book sale brought thousands of people to the curling club on Quadra Street, and raised $165,000, a total boosted by matching funds from the provincial government.
We are down more than $100,000 from last year. In this wacky year, that counts as a win.
In the past 24 hours, we have received donations of $1,000 and $500, as well as several smaller ones, $25 to $100. It all counts. It adds up. Every donation matters; every donation makes a difference.
As in past years, whatever we raise will be enhanced by additional funding from Decoda Literacy Solutions, which distributes money from the provincial government.
The Decoda grant is based on what we can raise in the community.
Thanks for your support.
> To donate, go to timescolonist.com/1.23601097
