KNYSNA NEWS - Among the many items residents of Knysna and surrounds lost during the June fires were their books. For some people, books are purely a boring wad of pages stuck together, but for many, their books are some of their most prized possessions.
A way to escape. A way to learn and use their imagination.
Enter Bargain Books, Pam Golding Properties, and the Knysna Literary Festival.
According to Bargain Books marketing manager Bianca Adendorff, the company wanted to offer fire victims the opportunity to choose books they want instead of having to make do with whatever reading material came their way by way of collections.
“We at Bargain Books would like to show our appreciation to all our local community for the support of our shop by offering a unique experience whereby customers will be able to visit our pop-up bookshop and choose new books for free and without restriction, to replace those that were lost,” she said.
The shop, which is located next to Village Pharmacy at Knysna Mall, near Spar, is open every day from 09:00 to 18:00, and will remain there until all the available books have found new owners, according to volunteer Brenda McKechnie.
Books for days at the Bargain Books pop-up store.
“We are very honoured and blessed to have support from our suppliers, who have provided us with some book donations, and to Village Mall management for letting us use the premises for the pop-up bookshop, our volunteers, staff and many more who are supporting us on other levels,” said Adendorff.
For more information and to find out how you can help, donate or volunteer, residents can contact store manager Kobie McKechnie on 082-537-3446.
Sasha Campbell of Pam Golding said, “The Knysna Literary Festival and Pam Golding Properties Knysna and Plett are so pleased to be able to do their part along with the #KnysnaBookDrive initiative and Bargain Books. Books aren't necessarily an emergency item but at a time like this when people have literally lost every single thing they own, they could provide a much-needed source of escapism and food for the soul.”
According to Campbell, the #KnysnaBookDrive initiative was started by Mandy Wiener.
Bibliophiles searching to replace some of the books they lost in the fires.
Books have also been distributed to Knysna High, Knysna Primary, Concordia Primary, Concordia High, Chris Nissen High, Tembelitsha Primary, Karatara School, Rheenendal Primary, Knysna High hostel, Dorothy Broster children's home and the Brenton community hall.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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