ESELTJIESRUS Donkey Sanctuary will be celebrating 15 years of its love for books and promoting a culture of reading at the annual Book Fair in McGregor from Friday, May 17 till Sunday, May 19. This is an event for book lovers, bargain hunters and readers looking for special treasures.
The tables will once again groan under the weight of thousands of new and fresh pre-owned books on a variety of topics at rock-bottom prices. Whether you are looking for non-fiction, the latest novels, books on travel, poetry, self-help, cookery, children’s or Afrikaans books, you will find both them here. New stock will be put out every day. The Storytelling and Book Reading Theatre for children was introduced last year to make sure that no one visiting the fair is deprived of the joy of reading a good book.
Every book sold will aid donkeys in need. Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary provides a permanent refuge for abused, neglected and elderly donkeys just outside McGregor, where they are given the opportunity to live out their lives with respect and dignity, surrounded by their own kind, in a protective and natural environment. Each donkey is cared for and checked daily according to their individual needs and ages. The sanctuary is open to the public four days a week to give adults and children the opportunity to interact with the donkeys on guided tours.
A part of the work at the sanctuary that is growing steadily, is dealing with queries from across the country regarding good donkey care. Most problems arise from ignorance or the misbelief that donkeys do not need regular handling or appropriate care. The help given in this way, no doubt contributes to raising the status of donkeys in the eyes of the public. Each individual donkey helped is one less in pain, discomfort or suffering mental anguish.
Although the success of this year’s Book Fair in McGregor will play a major role in supporting the work done at the Donkey Sanctuary, the community will also benefit from this event. Work is created, books are donated to schools and libraries in the greater Langeberg area, and the Breede Skills Centre will receive all the books read to children in the Storytelling and Book Reading Theatre, so the young ones can continue hearing wonderful stories.
For more information, call 023 625 1593, email [email protected], or click here.
