Grant ensures continuation of AAUW/Kiwanis book sale
Pastor Marty Jacobson, left, of Zion Lutheran Church, Karen Armstrong of the American Association of University Women, and Mike Bogner and Christy VanSickle of the Wooster Kiwanis outside the drop-off site at the church for books sold at the annual AAUW/Kiwanis used book sale, held every September.
Submitted
A grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation has ensured the continuation of the annual used book sale organized by the American Association of University Women and the Wooster Kiwanis Club.
Since 1980 the AAUW's annual used book sale has funded scholarships for over 200 female residents of Wayne County whose post-secondary education was interrupted. These scholarships, many of which are multiyear, have provided support for women seeking to complete their education and advance their careers.
The Wooster Kiwanis Club joined the annual sale in 2009, further enhancing its impact on the community. The club has used proceeds from the sale to fund several service projects for children in the community, most notably the original construction and subsequent renovation of the Christmas Run playground.
The fundraiser faced potential closure in 2023 when the AAUW and Wooster Kiwanis Club were notified their lease for the previous used book processing facility would not be renewed, putting the future of their annual sale in jeopardy. Confronted with the possibility of shutting down, members of both organizations began searching for a new location.
A suggestion led them to contact Zion Lutheran Church in Wooster about an outbuilding on their property. Pastor Marty Jacobson informed them the space was in use by five Scout troops but offered to check with his congregation's leadership about relocating the Scouts to underutilized spaces inside the main church building. The Scout leaders agreed to the move with a few conditions, and a lease was signed in late January 2024.
“There was one major issue that still had to be sorted to make the new building workable for the collection and processing of books for the sale,” said Karen Armstrong, board president of the AAUW. “We have about 35 pallets containing over 40,000 books that must be loaded on trucks and moved to the Wayne County Fairgrounds, where the sale takes place. The single-man doors in the new building were too narrow to allow passage of full pallets.”
Mike Bogner, a Kiwanian and manager at Bogner Construction, developed a plan to install a double-door unit to facilitate the transfer of pallets. An application was made to the Wayne County Community Foundation for a grant to cover the cost of labor and materials. The grant was approved, and the doors were installed in time for the 2024 book sale.
Donations are accepted every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. The new facility is located next to Zion Lutheran Church at 301 N. Market St. in Wooster. Large drop-offs such as moving or estate clearances can be made by appointment. Call or text 330-439-2093 to arrange a time to drop off large donations or to arrange a pickup for large quantities of boxed books.
The annual book sale takes place every September at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Buss Hall. Follow AAUW or Kiwanis on Facebook for dates closer to the event.
