RSVP and Books Are Fun team up for fair

SUPERIOR – Residents were able to get an early start on gift shopping as well as personal purchases while benefiting two worthy causes during Tuesday’s book and gift fair.

The fair was put on by the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program with help from Books are Fun. The event was held in Superior’s Masonic Lodge, though the Masons were not affiliated with it.

The fair had a variety of things for sale. While it was a book fair, they were also selling bags, electronics, kitchen items and toys. The books consisted of children’s books, cookbooks, books on philosophy and outdoor survival as well as a few popular fiction novels. According to Laura Cook, Books Are Fun’s representative, the items sold were the same quality as would be found at a big retail store, but approximately 30 percent cheaper.

According to Berry, there was a fairly steady stream of people throughout the day-long event. The fair was up for just the one day, but they saw good traffic.

The book fair acted as a general fundraiser for RSVP. According to MaryJo Berry, the funds will help with their services for giving residents rides, group workshops, making pamphlets and other things the group itself is unable to pay for. They have also bought presents for the nursing home and assisted living center at Mineral Community Hospital; some of these have included chains for their vehicles as well as wing-backed chairs for the residents.

Many of their events are centered around educating the community about health issues and helping provide services to residents. They have also done breast and prostate cancer as well as diabetes awareness events among others.

Since the fair is a collaboration with Books Are Fun, the funds from the sales are collected by Books Are Fun and divided between them later. After the event, a check was given to RSVP for their portion of the money. The day’s income was divided based on the sales made.

Books Are Fun has two divisions, which go around to schools and organization events for fundraisers. Cook said she goes to hospitals, hotels and other venues all over Montana for events like the one put on by RSVP. Other representatives manage the events at schools

“I’m the only corporate field rep,” she said. “I think there are four or five school field reps.”

RSVP has done book fairs in the past, but it was estimated there had been a dozen over the last 10 years. The organization hopes to hold more though, and bring them to the community more often.

“We’re going to try to do this two times per year, so possibly right around Mother’s Day and right before Christmas,” Berry said.