For love of books
Nick Ianniello/Mineral Independent Jennifer Krutilla browses books from Books are Fun at a book fair in the Mineral County Hospital Thursday. Books are Fun gave 10 percent of their profits from the sale back to the Hospital Guild.
The Mineral County Hospital Guild hosted a book fair Thursday to raise money for the hospital and give hospital employees and people in the community an opportunity to purchase books and other gifts at a discounted price.
The Guild puts on the fair several times each year as a fund raiser through the national company, Books are Fun.
Karim Eshbaugh, one of the Books are Fun representatives for Montana, came to the hospital to sell book Thursday.
“I’d have to say that this is one of my favorite towns to come to,” Eshbaugh said.
He said that, while he does not sell as many books in Superior as he does in other towns because it is a smaller, the friendly atmosphere and people make the time he spends here fun.
“What sets us apart from some of the other vendors is that we promote reading and literature,” Eshbaugh said.
The fair went from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Eshbaugh said that most hospital employees came in on their breaks to shop for books. He added that several people came to the hospital to look for books including teachers from the nearby Superior Schools
“Most of our books are educational,” Eshbaugh said.
He added that books are Fun has been coming to the hospital since 2005. The fund raising company gives 10 percent of all of its profits to the hospital guild which Eshbaugh said amounts to around $200.
Eshbaugh said that Books are Fun gives $50 million to reading programs across the country each year.
“Not only does this help the community with the money going back into the hospital, but it helps kids all over the country as well,” Eshbaugh said.
He added that since Books are Fun is a fundraising company they get special deals from publishing companies and can sell all of their products for 25 percent to 75 percent off whole sale prices.
“Not only do the staff get this delivered right to their work, but they get a great deal and with a portion of this going back to the hospital it’s a win win for everybody,” Eshbaugh said.
The Mineral County Hospital Guild is a group of hospital supporters that raise money and spend time to make the hospital a better place.
Guild member Sharon Koke said that the fund raiser is not particularly big for them as far as bringing in money is concerned but it is a nice service for the people at the hospital. She said that most of their fundraisers are small events and the money adds up over time and allows them to do things for the hospital.
“We don’t really get that much money from anybody, it just kind of all adds up in the end,” Koke said.
Koke said that some of the things the guild has done for the hospital include helping pay for a high quality popcorn machine that is used by the patients and staff as well as helping to pay for bike helmets for kids that were given out at the Mineral County Health Fair.
Koke said that they also helped close in a hospital patio so it could be used year round by the activities coordinator as a place for arts and crafts or other activities.
Betty Magone, another Hospital Guild Member, said that they also spend time with patients, especially those without friends or families that can come and sit with them.
The guild has around 20 members who donate their time and money to the hospital.
Eshbaugh said that Books are Fun is scheduled to be back in Mineral County on December 11, just in time for Christmas.