Logistics Extraordinaire Gary Adler
Australian Books for Children of Africa...how did I get here? I have always loved books & want everyone to enjoy the befits of access to them. In most places in Australia we have amazing public libraries so we have easy access to books.
I sold my business, The Chocolate Box in December 2020. I have spent my life managing this retail confectionery & cafe business with stores in Melbourne & Sydney. Although I loved (and still love) chocolate and retailing, I have always wanted to be in the book retailing business. In June 2021 I began volunteering with the Posh Opp shop which raises funds to support aides for children with a disability. Rosalie Silverstein, the Posh Opp Shoppe founder kindly allowed me to take control of the book department. What fun! It is like the famous line in the movie, Forrest Gump. "My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." Well from chocolates to books....the stock arrives as donations every week & you never know what you are going to get. I am both constantly amazed by what arrives, both in incredible quality and variety, as well as allot of junk. I now do a weekly run with loads of books to take to the recycling centre.
An area of particular interest is children's books. I receive large quantities for various reasons. Sometimes children grow out of books & want to clear them from their bookshelves. Other times the parents are "tidying up". Quite often we get books that are in such perfect condition that I imagine they were received as a present, but not to the child's interest so, we get them.
The quantity that we receive is more than we are able to sell and I usually only normally allow books to sit on the shelves for around 6 - 8 months. I get assistance from Susie Kennett and one day I was complaining about what to do with the excess children's books which I have to throw away & she mentioned about an organisation that she was aware of called ABCA...and the rest is history. i now bring 1 - 2 cartons of books nearly every week.
I love the fact that these books can get a second life to children who do not have easy access to books.
August 2023
Written by Gary Adler
