THE Y SERVICE Club of Bendigo is returning to its wildly popular book sales as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Volunteers will host a scaled down version of its epic Easter and Grand Final fundraisers this weekend and there will be no repeat this year of crowds of 300 surging through the doors as the sale begins, club member Colin Lambie said.
"In the past we have literally had people running in to get the best picks," he said.
More news:
Only 50 people will be allowed in a lane way beside Mundy Street's Tom Tweed Stadium at a time this weekend, with orderly lines to form on the broad sidewalks out the front, Mr Lambie said.
Organisers hoped for people's understanding about the need to keep the event COVID-safe.
"We'd normally expect to sell 20,000 books over Easter and 10,000 over the Grand Final weekend," Mr Lambie said.
"We already had a mountain of books out the back in preparation for Easter this year but, obviously, that could not go ahead."
The club was forced to close its donation bins in March out of concern its collection of books would grow too big.
"We would usually get books donated every day, including Christmas day," Mr Lambie said.
They plan to run the event over both Saturday and Sunday.
If the sale is a success the group may consider hosting more over the summer, Mr Lambie said.
The club uses its book sales to raise money for charities and local community groups.
Mr Lambie said the club will likely begin its annual Christmas tree sales soon, subject to social distancing restrictions remaining eased.