Mission Statement
The purpose of the VNSA Used Book Sale is to raise funds for three nonprofit human service agencies: Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, and Toby House, Inc. VNSA members work year round preparing and producing one of the largest charitable used book sales in the country.
The proceeds of the annual VNSA Used Book Sale benefit Valley human service agencies. The dollars donated to community programs has increased significantly over the years. Since the first VNSA Used Book Sale in 1957, VNSA has returned more than $5,300,000 to local nonprofit human service agencies in our community.
VNSA has supported the following agencies since 1987:
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation
is organized to promote the self esteem, and enrich the lives, of Arizona's foster children. AFFCF funds activities, education and other opportunities that provide the children with quality experiences while they live in difficult circumstances. Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County
teaches individuals age 16 and older to read, speak English or prepare for their GED. LVMC has family literacy programs, operates two Learning Centers in Phoenix, and offers one-to-one tutoring county-wide. Toby House, Inc.
was the first psychiatric halfway house in Arizona and continues to help adults with serious mental illness learn to live successfully in the community. To do this, Toby House operates various levels of residential and outpatient treatment programs. The growth of the VNSA Used Book Sale, and our increasing ability to support public service agencies, has been made possible by the good will and generosity of our many volunteer members, donors, supporters and loyal shoppers.
Description
Donations
All the books at the VNSA Used Book Sale have been donated by the public. Books and related items are donated by individuals, businesses, schools, libraries and other interested groups. VNSA is very grateful for the support of the community.
Types of Items Accepted: paperback books, hardback books, DVDs, CDs, videos, tapes, maps, records, jigsaw puzzles, encyclopedias printed in the last 15 years and those printed before 1950, and limited magazines.
Items not Accepted: Since donated books will be sold to others for use in their homes and schools, only new or gently used items AND older rare and unusual items can be accepted. VNSA does not accept damaged books, Readers Digest Condensed books, library discards, or general magazines (including National Geographic).
To donate: Books can be donated to VNSA by scheduling a pickup, or by using a drop box.
To schedule a pickup, call (602) 265-6805. Donations are tax deductible and receipts are available.
VNSA Volunteers
VNSA is an all-volunteer organization of interested members of the community. VNSA has no paid staff. Volunteer members collect, sort, price and box books year round. During preparations for the sale, VNSA receives help from hundreds of other volunteers. Members of Teamsters Unions 104 and 752 assist in moving books to the Fairgrounds and unloading them into categories. Hundreds of family and friends of VNSA work for a week unpacking boxes and preparing the books for display.
To receive information about becoming a full-time member, please call 602-265-6805 or send an email to info@vnsabooksale.org
History
More than 50 years ago, VNSA was organized as the Visiting Nurse Service Auxiliary. The VNSA Used Book Sale was begun in 1957 as a fund-raiser for the nonprofit Visiting Nurse Service. The first sale raised about $900. In the mid-1980's the Visiting Nurse Service was purchased by a large hospital corporation. The members of VNSA chose to remain active with nonprofit service agencies directly benefiting our community. Because our Owl Logo was very recognizable in the community, we kept the "VNSA" initials and became Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association. The VNSA Used Book Sale continues, and all sale proceeds benefit local nonprofit service agencies.
The Sale
VNSA is proud to make used books available to the general public at very reasonable prices while raising significant amounts of money for charities in Maricopa County. Last year's sale offered more than 600,000 books, DVDs, CDs, audio and video tapes, jigsaw puzzles, maps, and other book-related items. The sale attracted more than 20,000 shoppers and enabled VNSA to donate more than $340,000.
