Raising money with preloved books

A charity book stall in Wiltshire has raised over £500 in support of our blind veterans.

The stall at Salisbury Charters Market raises money for a variety of different charities and also local schools.

Chris started running bookstalls around 25 years ago while he was himself serving in the Army with the Royal Logistics Corps. He says:

“For the last ten years, the book stall has become a regular feature in Salisbury; I have around 12 regular volunteers who help me set up the stall and sell the books. We have constant donations coming in which is fantastic.

“Last Autumn, while running the stall, the Field Kitchen next door was raising money for Blind Veterans UK which is how I became aware of the charity; I made contact with blind veteran Dave and ran the first book stall to raise money for the charity in November.”

Blind veteran Dave

Dave attends the Salisbury and Amesbury Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club which is hosted at the Field Kitchen once a month. The club has regular meet ups to encourage social interaction for its members.

Dave, 47 and from Salisbury, lost his sight due to glaucoma and began being supported by our charity in 2012. Dave lost his sight at 30 years old. Following an appointment at Specsavers for new glasses, he was sent to the hospital where he discovered his right eye was unsalvageable. Dave is now black blind in that eye and has limited sight in his left eye. He says:

“I remember thinking, what will my future be now? I sent myself around the bend and was feeling so lost. Wiltshire Sight said they knew the perfect people to put me in touch with and that is how I discovered Blind Veterans UK.

“The charity has helped me no end, I’ve been on computer courses, cooking courses, I’ve had weeks away doing activities like fishing and I attend the summer camp at HMS Sultan. They really have helped me to maintain my independence.

“I am so grateful to Chris for supporting the charity with the bookstall; I now go along every week to help run the bookstall regardless of which charity is benefitting. 

“I can’t read any of the books, but I do enjoy selling them! It’s great to know that people in the local community support us and it’s a fantastic way to prevent books from ending up in landfill.”

Bookstalls supporting our blind veterans

Since November, Chris has held three book stalls in aid of our charity and is running the next on Saturday March 8. Chris says:

“Having served for 34 years in the Army I understand how vital military charities are. Of course, not every veteran will need their support, but many do and knowing they are there is hugely reassuring. I don’t need the support myself but we should all chip in in case one day we do and to honour those who served alongside us.”

The Charity Book Stall at Salisbury Charters Market runs frequently throughout the year but is weather dependent.