Bermuda book sales to aid Sunshine League

One of Bermuda’s oldest charities is to raise funds with a series of book sales timed to coincide with the Heritage Month of May.

The Sunshine League, which has been caring for children for more than 90 years, will sell books with a distinctive Bermuda theme to promote an awareness of island history and help it with its work.

Sale organizer and community activist Peggy Burns said: “It’s a book-a-thon — what I’m trying to do is make available works by local authors.

“These books are out of print and will never be reprinted. The timing was ideal and in keeping with Heritage Month.

“There are children’s books as well as books for the advanced reader and it would be nice if we could liquidate the entire inventory.”

Sunshine League managing director Dr Glenn Faries said: “Peggy came to us with the idea — she wanted some of the proceeds to benefit the Sunshine League.

“It’s Heritage Month [next month] and these are heritage books.”

Dr Faries said the Sunshine League, which up until 2011 concentrated on residential care for youngsters, had changed its focus in line with modern thinking which promotes foster care in a family setting rather than an institution.

The charity now concentrates on providing services to young children in care and their families.

Dr Faries added: “Down the road, we’re looking at putting in place a transitional living centre for children leaving the foster care system.”

He said: “As the Sunshine League has gone through a period of restructuring, we remain focused on our own heritage.

“Building on that legacy, we will ensure Bermuda’s young people become healthy, productive and independent citizens.

“I look at reading as being one of the key ways we can do that. In general, reading and literacy are a key thing to propel children forward to bigger and better things.

“It’s a combination of heritage, literacy and seeing our children grow up well. It’s a good fit.”

Among the books on offer will be several works by former MP and writer Dale Butler, Dr Eva Hodgson and Ira Philip. Rare copies of Fame magazine from the 1970s will also be available.

Dr Hodgson said: “This is a great idea. It is not only trying to support the Sunshine League but it is encouraging people to read.

“I sometimes talk about the gap between the culture of the wealthy and the culture of the less than — reading is one way of narrowing that gap as we not only learn about our own history but we can learn from others of things that we may never personally experience.

“Moreover, it is something that costs very little and yet offers so much.”

The book sales will be held on May 4, 11, 18 and 25 at the Sunshine League’s HQ on King Street, Hamilton, between 10am and 5pm.

For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Ms Burns at 297 1624 or 518 9787 or email [email protected]. n