A community initiative that invites local residents to trade giving out candy and instead hand out books this Halloween is gaining momentum across the Comox Valley as businesses and organizations offer ways to take part.
Book drives are being held at the Courtenay Library, 4R’s Education Centre and Black Creek Community Association. You can drop off new or gently-used books during regular weekday business hours at any of those locations throughout the month of October. Baby and toddler books are especially needed.
Those books will then be given out at the Library and Black Creek Community Association as part of Halloween celebrations.
Nearly New Books in downtown Comox also announced this week that it will offer all of its regular stock of used books at 50 per cent off for anyone coming in and buying books to give out for Halloween.
“Books for Treats inspired us to give out books instead of treats during the annual Halloween walk in Comox,” said Nearly New’s owner Dan Kyle. “Then we realized we could help even more. We usually price the bulk of our children's books at $2 or less, with some at 25 or 50 cents.
"With our offer of a discount, then it will be possible to find something for under a dollar — about the cost of two pieces of packaged candy that one would likely give out.”
Books for Treats is hosted by Our Big Earth Media Co. The initiative invites local residents, families, schools, businesses and organizations to trade the candy of the sugary kind for a bit of brain candy in the form of giving out gently used books this year.
It’s easy to do. Gather up your used books.
Then, download your how-to kit that gives you all the details on how to set up and sort the books to give out at your door this Halloween. We’ve even got posters and bookmarks for you to use.
The Comox Valley 2011 Books for Treats team includes Our Big Earth, Comox Valley Literacy Now, the Courtenay Library, Cumberland Museum, 4R’s Education Centre, Wachiay Friendship Centre, Brooklyn Elementary StrongStart, Polka Dot Pants! Consignment Boutique, the BCCA, Nearly New Books and the Comox Valley Record.
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