Wanted: your old books for a worthy cause

The Madison Park Community Council (MPCC) is in desperate need of some books--actually a lot of books. The Council has a book sale upcoming at the Bathhouse (September 11, 10 am to 4 pm), but has virtually no books to sell! This is a really not a good thing. Especially not good, given that the annual book sale (this is actually the Second Annual) is the MPCC’s primary funding vehicle. No books, no book sales, no money to operate the Council. You get it.

So, if you have any books that are cluttering up the place and that could be donated to help your neighborhood, the Council has a solution, one that also applies to surplus DVDs, CDs, tapes, and audio books, as well as kids’ toys and games. And this year your donations will be tax deductible, since the MPCC has just been given non-profit status.

In the first book sale last year, thousands of books were donated and the council netted $900. This year, according to Council President Ken Myrabo, donations are running about 90% behind last year’s level. I’m suspicious that last year everyone who donated pretty much cleaned out their years’ of accumulated books and disks, so for those folks there’s probably not much left in the old house this year. If my theory’s correct, it means that some new souls will now have to join the effort by searching their own basements, attics, and garages for donate-able items.

In case you’re unaware of the Council and its activities, here’s a brief rundown of some of the things the MPCC has been working on over the past year: opposing the Governor’s SR-520 “preferred plan,” creating a park at the Madison Street road end, replacing park benches in the “triangle park," improving parking in the neighborhood, upgrading sidewalks, and working with the Seattle Police on neighborhood crime prevention. The Council is composed of volunteers who receive no monetary compensation for their efforts.

Donations may be delivered to Park Postal (4111 East Madison St.) or you can email Myrabo (kmyrabo100@hotmail.com) and he will come and pick them up from you. Either way, you’ll feel better for helping the cause!