Hoosier Hills Food Bank Hosts 39th Annual Community Book Fair

​The 39th Annual Community Book Fair, a benefit for Hoosier Hills Food Bank, will take place October 12th through 17th at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.  This year’s book fair will fill two buildings with over 100,000 books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, games, puzzles and other items at affordable prices to support the food bank’s work.  There will be a large selection of children’s books and collectible “Better Books,” which will also include a selection of vintage vinyl LPs. 

The Book Fair will feature more than twice the usual number of music CDs, food trucks, Chocolate Moose ice cream for purchase, Veteran’s services information, limited free t-shirts on Friday the 13th, and a Curious George Day partnership with Constellation Stage & Screen to promote their community access tickets program and October/November show, “Curious George: The Golden Meatball.”

Opening Day will also feature a short ceremony to introduce the food bank’s newest fleet addition, “Ruby”, a 26 foot refrigerated box truck that was ordered two years ago and delayed by supply chain issues.  The Book Fair schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, October 12th, 9am- 7pm - $10 Admission.  Veteran’s Appreciation Day – veterans and active duty military admitted free, Monroe County Veteran’s Services info table.  Little Bowl Thai food truck.  8:30am – Welcome ceremony for “Ruby”, HHFB’s new truck. 
• Friday, October 13th, 9am-7pm – FREE Admission. Free spooky t-shirt if you spend $50 while supplies last.  Pili’s Taco Party food truck.
• Saturday, October 14th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission.  Curious George Day.  Free Curious George Haunted Halloween book for kids while supplies last.  B97 live remote broadcast with games and prizes.  Arepa food truck.
• Sunday, October 15th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. Half-price Day! Heroes Day!  All items half-price.  Meet Monroe Fire District firefighters. Little Bowl Thai food truck. 
• Monday, October 16th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission.  $10 Bag It Day.  Fill unlimited bags for $10 each.  Better Books $20 Bag It – limit one.
• Tuesday, October 17th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission.  $5 Bag It Day.  Fill unlimited bags for $5 each.  Better Books closed.

Better Books and some other items are individually priced, but pricing for most items is consistent:  Hardback Books $3, Paperback Books $1; Children’s Hardbacks $1, Children’s Paperbacks 50 cents; DVDs $2; CDs $1; LPs & VHS 50 cents.

A food drive for HHFB will also take place during the entire fair.  Bring a non-perishable food donation and receive a $1 book buck coupon.  Kids under 18 who bring a food donation will receive a free book coupon.

HHFB accepts donations for the book fair all year EXCEPT during October.  Donors are requested not to bring any book donations to the fair or the food bank during October.

Sponsorships help offset the costs of running the book fair and this year’s sponsors include:  Gold Level: Catalent, Kroger and Monroe County Fairgrounds.  Corporate Level:  Boston Scientific, Finney Hospitality Group, HFI Mechanical & Building Solutions, Hoosier Energy, Lamar Advertising Company, Master Rental, Morgenstern’s Books, One World Enterprises, Republic Services, Southside Rental.  Benefactors:  Bill C. Brown Associates, Kiwanis Club of Bloomington, Kritzer Insurance, Monday Morning Sorters, Phedcomm. 

HHFB will host a short opening ceremony on Opening Day (October 12) at 8:30am to welcome a long-awaited addition to our fleet – “Ruby”.  Light refreshments will be available. Ruby is a 2023 International 26 ft. refrigerated box truck that was ordered in January 2022.  Kroger provided an initial grant of $77,000 to purchase the truck which was supplemented with a capital campaign during HHFB’s Ruby Anniversary year.  Additional support came from Monroe County Government ARPA funds, Smithville Charitable Foundation, SCI REMC, the Community Foundations of Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Owen counties and over 25 private donors.  Total cost of the vehicle is $144,000 which will be used for collection and delivery of food in all six counties served by HHFB. 
Food truck schedules subject to change.