Neepawa Rotary Club’s Annual Book Sale Supports Youth Literacy and Leadership

The Neepawa Rotary Club hosted its annual used book sale this week, marking its first year in a new venue at the Neepawa Rifle Range. The event, now a staple in the community, has been running for several years and raises thousands of dollars for local initiatives, especially those aimed at youth development.

Literacy a Top Priority for Rotary

Promoting literacy is one of Rotary International’s seven key areas of focus, which inspired the Neepawa club to launch the book sale in 2018. Since then, generous community members have donated more than 7,000 books, with final numbers from the 2025 sale still to be tallied.

With the cost of new books continuing to rise, Rotarian Bob Durston emphasized the importance of making reading more accessible. “Sales like this make it much more affordable for families to bring books into the home,” he said. Children’s books are priced especially low to encourage families to pick up several titles for young readers and those just beginning their reading journey.

Proceeds Support Youth Programs

Durston also noted that the sale not only promotes literacy but also directly supports youth programming. Proceeds go toward projects such as the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly later this summer, as well as the Rotary Youth Exchange, a year-long international learning experience. These initiatives help build on the foundational skills that literacy provides and offer young people opportunities to grow as leaders, both locally and globally.

In addition to these programs, the Neepawa Rotary Club also supports student participation in other notable initiatives:

• Adventures in Agriculture, Citizenship, and Human Rights in Regina, Ottawa, and Winnipe,g respectively

• Model United Nations Assembly in Winnipeg

Filipino Community Holds Candlelight Vigil for Vancouver Tragedy

Also featured in this week’s show were clips from a deeply moving candlelight vigil organized by Neepawa’s Filipino community. Held at Riverbend Park, the interfaith gathering offered spiritual support and remembrance for the victims and families affected by the recent tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver.

The event included songs, prayers, and sharing circles, giving attendees space to express their grief and solidarity. Funds raised during the vigil were donated to the Canadian Red Cross as part of their Vancouver Lapu-Lapu Festival Appeal, which supports families impacted by the incident.

Anyone wishing to make an additional contribution can do so through redcross.ca. Resources for those affected can also be found at the festival’s official website, lapulapuday.com.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction

• 03:09 – Community Vigil

• 23:41 – Rotary Book Sale