Book Exchange Celebrates 30 Years Of Helping Charities

By Leigh Wills

Three decades ago, a group of women from St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church had an idea. They wanted to create a business selling books, but instead of keeping any profits for themselves, all of the money raised through the new venture would go to charity.

The plan proved to be a success. Since 1980, nearly a quarter of a million dollars has been distributed to local charities through the Book Exchange in Flat Rock. This weekend, everyone is invited to come celebrate the Book Exchange’s 30^th birthday.

The celebration takes place Saturday, July 31, from 10am to 4pm at the Book Exchange, located at 2680 Greenville Highway. The event will include chocolate birthday cake, balloons for the kids, music in the afternoon and a morning visit by Robert Lange who will sign copies of his book, The Knowing Gene.

Lange will be at the Book Exchange from 10am to 12pm. The day will also include a select group of hardcover books on sale for half-price.

Jinny Bell, who manages the shop and the 40 volunteers who give their time to the Exchange, said the Book Exchange is one of Henderson County’s best-kept secrets. Readers looking for good deals on books should drop by for a visit.

“We’re just hoping to generate a little more interest and let people know we’re there,” she said. “The paperback books cost half the publisher’s price. A seven dollar book will cost you three fifty. The hardcovers are priced from one dollar to eight dollars and ten if it’s on the best sellers list. If people want to read and can’t afford books, this is the place to go.”

All of the thousands of books and magazines the Book Exchange offers for sale are donated.

The Exchange helps a variety of local charities, including the Boys and Girls Club, the Backpack Program, Community Health Services, Children’s Family Resource Center, Council on Aging, Hospice, Hendersonville Rescue Mission, IAM, Mainstay, Salvation Army and the Free Clinics.

The Book Exchange is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4 pm. The entrance to the parking lot is on Village Center Drive across from the Flat Rock Playhouse parking lot. The Exchange accepts donations any time and gives credit on paperbacks costing over $5, which may be used on other paperbacks.