Book sale fundraiser delights Pearland readers

Author(s):    KRISTI NIX, knix@hcnonline.com Date: September 23, 2010 Section: B

Hundreds of readers and book collectors flocked to the Adult Reading Center’s 12th Annual Used Book Sale held Friday and Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn. “We had a wonderful turnout this year,” said Assistant Executive Director Carol Keeney. “I’m a book person. I love books. So I think this is a great way to raise money for the Adult Reading Center.”

The group accepts donations year round for the event, which has become a yearly tradition for many families. Although volunteers didn’t have an official count, the organization’s website reported roughly 20,000 books were donated for the sale this year.

“The Pearland community is so supportive of the Adult Reading Center. We have people dropping off books every week of the year,” Keeney said.

The popular yearly fundraiser raises money for the Adult Reading Center, a local non-profit that offers free instruction and one on one tutoring for individuals with low literacy skills.

Organizers say tutors and volunteers help more than 2,000 people learn to read and writer last year, with dozens of people remaining each month on the waiting list. The group also offers instruction to people who are learning to speak English.

“The people who come to the Center are motivated to change their lives for the better and they are willing to work hard to do it,” Keeney said.

“We find the need (for our programs) is immense and we don’t feel we are totally fulfilling the need,” she said. “We don’t have the resources we need. We don’t have enough volunteers. We have a waiting list of at least 50 people almost all the time for people waiting to get into our programs.”

“Our learners want so badly to learn to read. Reading is the key to life now. Without reading life is difficult in the United States. We feel like we are opening the doors for them to have the American dream.”

All money raised at the book sale will fund programs and classes held at the Adult Reading Center.

Houston resident Sonja Aviles came to the sale with her niece Kiley Aviles, 9, of Pearland and her mother Beaulah Avila.

“We just bought a house and I’m looking for books about plants,” she said.

Volunteers estimated more than 2,000 people came to shop for books. Organizers said they plan to donate the remaining books to the Salvation Army or the VA Hospital.

“Brazoria County Judge Starkenburg is picking up books to donate to a children’s’ group as well,” Keeney said. “We are working together to make sure all the books are recycled.”

The Hilton Garden Inn in west Pearland played host to the event, which featured a special wine and cheese book preview sale on Friday. Several hundred people attended the opening, organizers said. For last minute shoppers, volunteers sold grocery sacks filled with books for $5 after 2 p.m. on Saturday.

On November 1, the Adult Reading Center is hosting another fundraiser: the Links for Literacy Golf Tournament at the Club at Country Place located at 3123 Flower Field Lane.

Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place teams during the official Awards Ceremony and Benefit Luncheon immediately following the tournament. Individual awards will also be given for “closest to the pin” and the longest drive, organizers said.

To reserve a spot or for more information contact the Tournament Manager Kara Burke at 281.485.1000 or by email: kara.burke1186@sbcglobal.net.

The Adult Reading Center has been serving the greater Pearland community for more than 20 years. Executive Director Dale Pillow, considered by many to be the driving force behind the group’s long term success, is one of the founding volunteers who helped establish the Center in 1987. The Adult Reading Center is the only volunteer-based literacy provider in the local area. In addition to literacy classes and one of one tutoring, they offer job training classes and emergency preparedness workshops for people with special needs such as low literacy individuals.

The Adult Reading Center is located at 2246 N. Washington Avenue in Pearland. For information about their programs or to become a volunteer call 281-485-1000 or visit www.adultreadingcenter.org.