Annual Shelter House book sale continues to grow

IOWA CITY - For the past few months, Shelter House staff members have been collecting, sorting and setting up at least 20,000 books in preparation for the 14th annual Shelter House Book Sale.

On Saturday, their work paid off, as dozens of people looked to pick up some new books and help Johnson County's homeless in the process.

“It's a fundraiser but it's also a community builder,” said Gale Kolbet, chairwoman of the book sale committee and incoming Shelter House board president.

According to Kolbet, the annual fundraiser keeps on growing. For the first time this year, the Shelter House held the sale in donated space at the Sycamore Mall, 1660 Sycamore St.  It's also the first year the sale has gone two days in a row.

Anyone willing to give a $10 donation was allowed to come in 30 minutes early and get a head start on the sale. About 50 people took that offer Saturday morning, Kolbet said.

“After all, Iowa City is a literary community, so we obviously have a lot of readers and a lot of writers,” she said.

The Shelter House, 429 Southgate Ave., brought in about $2,000 from its first book sale 14 years ago at Trinity Episcopal Church, 320 E. College St. Last year, Kolbet said about $7,500 was raised after expenses.

This year, Kolbet said she hopes for even more success.

“It just grew and grew and grew to become what it is today,” she said, adding that the sale has gained recognition through word-of-mouth, online and media advertising.

The books range in topic from thrillers to biographies to children's books and more. They are priced between 25 cents and $5. Cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, sheet music, and LP records also are among the items for sale.

All children accompanied by an adult can leave with one free book, and today, everything is half price.

Proceeds go to the Shelter House's operations budget, Kolbet said.

Iowa City residents David and Cynthia Fruendt were among those perusing the large tables of books Saturday afternoon.

David, 69, said he didn't anticipate buying any books, but both he and

his wife quickly found themselves balancing several stacks in their arms as they looked around.

“I though I'd pick up a cheap book ... and it's good that it's going for something that's good,” David said.

Cynthia, who clutched about five books, including titles by Janet Evanovich and the novel “Water for Elephants,” said they had just left a pancake breakfast to benefit The Crisis Center of Johnson County.

“We're doing some good today,” said Cynthia, 63, as she picked up another book.