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| Dianne Wetzel, co-chairperson, Shelly Penzien, MCF founder and Pat Ball, volunteer. |
J. K. Rowling, Nicholas Sparks, Charles Dickens and Stephanie Meyers, they were all there. Thousands of authors listed in alphabetical order and stacked in neat little rows so patrons could find their favorite titles quickly.
If you love books this is the sale of all sales and for worthy cause. Every item sold during the Macomb Charitable Foundation's sixth annual Second Story Used Book Sale, through Nov. 13, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Macomb Township will benefit a needy family in Macomb County.
"We have been collecting books for well over a year," said Dianne Wetzel. "I said we had 30,000 but I've been told we probably have a lot more than that. We also have tons of games and puzzles, DVDs and CDs. It's a major undertaking but it's worth it."
The funds from the sale will support the charity's goal to alleviate the suffering of children and their families by providing financial assistance for items such as but not limited to; food, clothing, personal care items, rent/utility assistance, vehicle repair, educational assistance and when available personal and spiritual mentoring.
"We are blessing two families with vehicles they can use," said Shelly Penzien, founder of the Macomb Charitable Foundation. Progressive Insurance in Sterling Heights took two vehicles that were in an accident and in need of body work but in good working condition and asked a couple of collision shops to fix them up so they could be donated to a family in need. Thanks to Progressive's initiative and the work done by Gentiles Collision in Shelby Township and Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury in Garden City two families who experienced homelessness but have managed to get back on their feet will have transportation and thanks to the sales of the books car insurance and licenses.
"One of our families is a single dad with a 15-year-old daughter. The mom just passed away in January from breast cancer," Penzien said. "The second family is a mom, dad and two children. The dad worked in construction but his hours just didn't add up and they lost their rental property. The Macomb Charitable Foundation assisted both of these families. Now they're out of the motels and one is in low-income housing and the other in an apartment."
The temporary book emporium, which was once housed in one office but has grown to cover 2,000 square feet, will feature a variety of books, including fiction and nonfiction for adults, teens and children. Shoppers will find hundreds of hardcover and paperback titles organized by popular authors or topics such as self-help, historic or biography. Looking for a holiday story by Debbie Macomber? How about a children series? Among the thousands of clean and, in most cases, like new titles are many children and teen series including "Harry Potter," "Magic Treehouse," "Little House on the Prairie," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and "Junie B. Jones."
Penzien smiled at Dianne and Bill Wetzel who were working feverishly to get things at the sale set up and ready to go. Parishioners and students from the school were among the volunteers standing by to help with the sale. "This couple here... they are just wonderful," Penzien said of the Wetzels. "They work all year on this event and it shows."
The books cost 50 cents for paperbacks and $1 for hardcover. On Nov. 12, 13, buyers can fill a bag for $5. Hours: today from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Nov. 11 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Nov. 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
St. Peter Lutheran Church is at 17051 24 Mile Road, Macomb Township. For more information about the Macomb Charitable Foundation click here
TODAY'S MUSE
The person and the society are yoked, like mind and body. Arguing which is more important is like debating whether oxygen or hydrogen is the more essential property of water -- Marilyn Ferguson.
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