By Alex Allan, Acadia Broadcasting
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saint John is celebrating its 20th anniversary of its annual Big Book Sale with a big change.
The event will be held at TD Station Arena for the first time, offering more space and a fresh experience for shoppers.
Executive Director Laurie Collins says the move from Brunswick Square to TD Station was driven by the milestone and the growing scale of the event.
The Big Book Sale is running from Thursday to Sunday, and Collins said there are an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 donated books, more than double the usual amount.
“This year will be different because the way we’re setting up around the concourse of TD station,” Collins said.
“I think most of our books will be out at one time because in Brunswick Square, we had limited space. We only had about 20 tables, and that was a lot of restocking for us throughout the week.”
Collins explained the expanded layout will allow shoppers to browse the full
Volunteers have spent the summer sorting and boxing thousands of books, with many still needed to help during the event, especially on Friday evening, Collins emphasized.
All proceeds from the event support Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring programs in the Saint John area, including in-school and group initiatives.
Collins says the fundraiser plays a vital role in helping match children with positive role models and providing services that help youth succeed.
Sunday’s event will feature a new “Fill-a-Box” format, replacing the traditional fill-a-bag day.
Collins says it’s a fun way to clear out remaining stock while giving readers a chance to take home more books.
“So all the boxes that are currently packed with books will be empty hopefully, and we’ll give those to people so they can fill a box to take away whatever treasures are left.”
Admission and parking are free from Friday to Sunday.
Thursday’s ‘Early Bird’ evening is ticketed and sold out, but a contest is running on the organization’s Facebook page for a chance to win remaining passes.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saint John directly.
