b'CHARITY OF THE MONTHVolunteer Nonprofit Service AssociationM ore than 60 years ago, VNSA began as the Visiting Nurse Service Auxiliary. The first VNSA Used Book Sale, held in 1957 as a fundraiser for the nonprofit Visiting Nurse Service raised about $900. In the mid-80s the Visiting Nurse Service was purchased by a large hospital corporation. The members of VNSA wanted to continue to support human services in the Phoenix area. With name and brand recognition already well-known, we kept the VNSA initials and became Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association. The VNSA Used Book Sale continues, and all proceeds from the annual VNSA Used Book Sale benefit Valley human service agencies. Since the first sale in 1957, VNSA has returned more than $8,000,000 to local nonprofit organizations in our community. Two organizations, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation and Literacy Volunteers of MaricopaFebruary 12 & 13, 2022County, have been VNSA beneficiaries65th Annual VNSA Used Book Sale since 1987. Arizona State Fairgrounds Ag Center 1826 West McDowell Road, Phoenix VNSA is proud to make used books available to the general public at veryvnsabooksale.orgreasonable prices. Each year, youll find almost half a million books, media and treasures at the VNSA Book Sale, all donated from the public, businesses, schools, and other groups. The 2020 sale offered approximately 500,000 books, DVDs, CDs, videotapes, jigsaw puzzles, games, maps, and other book-related items. More than 12,000 shoppers enjoyed the sale, and helped them raise more than $370,000, the net proceeds of which are donated to local charities. VNSA is an all-volunteer organization of members who work all year long, collecting books and media from drop boxes, retail locations, and private donors. Once collected, the items are sorted, priced, boxed, and stored until the annual book sale. Each member commits to a minimum number of hours of service each year.The week prior to each sale, the members unbox every item and arrange them on tables in subsections of their category, so theres some semblance of order when you walk into the Book Sale. During the two days of the sale, volunteers are constantly resorting books shoppers decide they dont want to purchase, so they are put back into their category as quickly as possible. Thats what those resort boxes, tied to each table, are for. If you are interested in becoming a VNSA member, please contact membership@vnsabooksale.org.DONATEThey take donations all year long, so if you have books and media that are no longer needed, please contact them. They sometimes get items that are not suitable for the Book Sale. Water damaged, excessively soiled, or torn books are not kept. Whenever possible, VNSA donates books they cannot sell to other nonprofit organizations that may have a use for them.Paperback books, hardback books, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records, audio books, maps, jigsaw puzzles and games are all accepted.VNSA USED BOOK SALE SCHEDULEThis year the 65th Annual VNSA Used Book Sale will be held February 12 and 13, 2022 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds Ag Center building located at 1826 West McDowell Road in Phoenix. Because VNSA wants everyone to have an equal opportunity to purchase books at the sale, they do NOT provide a Preview Sale to the public. There is no admission fee (although the State Fairgrounds charges a parking fee), and entry to the sale is first come, first served.Shoppers for the VNSA Used Book Sale may line up outside the Ag Center building beginning on the Friday before the Sale. A single individual may hold one spot for themselves and a partner for a total of 2 spots in line. If you wish to avoid the wait, watch the VNSA Facebook page for updates on Saturday. The early morning line is usually clear shortly after noon on Saturday. The line on Sunday morning is usually very short.VNSA sells hundreds of books, media, and other related items at prices significantly reduced from retail prices.Except for books in the Sets Area, books are marked with a price sticker on the spine, upper right cover and/or inside the front cover.All unmarked standard size paperbacks are $2.00. All items are half-price all day Sunday (except for the books in Rare & Unusual).The growth of the VNSA Used Book Sale, and their increasing ability to support public service agencies, has been made possible by the good will and generosity of their many volunteer members, donors, supporters and loyal shoppers. If you have specific questionsARIZONAREALCOUNTRY.COMor need information, please do not hesitate to write them at info@vnsabooksale.org ArizonaRealCountry.com January 2022 69'