After the Bethesda Auxillary disbanded last spring, their popular book fair at the Clearspring Centre was picked up by an organization called Recreational Opportunities for Children (ROC).

“This book fair has been a community staple twice a year for 15 years and when I heard it was shutting down I panicked,” explains ROC Executive Director Moni Loewen when asked why her organization had decided to pick up the mantel. She continues: “Reading is a leisure activity for so many people that helps with literacy, mental health, and overall well-being. It all fit with our vision.”

Though the book fair has changed hands, Loewen says around 100 of the original auxiliary volunteers have stayed to help with the event. She indicates that they believed in ROC’s vision of coming alongside families by providing them with mentoring and recreational resources and wanted to offer their continued support. “The money we raise goes directly towards saying ‘yes’ to more families on the waiting list,” she adds.

Loewen offers many thanks to these volunteers, many of whom have spent every Tuesday since September sorting, pricing, categorizing books. Without their guidance and former experience, Loewen suggests the event could not have transitioned between organizations so smoothly.