IN just one day, more than $700 has already been raised by the community to help cover the Queanbeyan Lions Community Bookshop’s electricity bills for the next 12 months.

Approaching its third anniversary this year, the store is run entirely by volunteers who sell donated books and has raised over $100,000 for charity organisations since its opening.

But keeping the lights on costs about $3000 a year and having been unable to find a sponsor they’ve called on the community to help, a call that’s been readily answered.

“It’s very heartening,” said Queanbeyan Lions Club vice-president Max Carrick, who set up the online fundraiser with secretary Karen Abbott.

“In just 24 hours we’ve hit a quarter of our target of $3000.

“With these donations it means all of the money from book sales can go back to the community, we won’t have to deduct electricity.

“People have been so generous.”

The idea for the bookshop was sparked by long-serving deputy mayor Peter Bray, a figure who tirelessly served the community and who sadly passed away last year.

“Peter had been running a monthly book fair selling books for one and two dollars and I think he could see for himself the end was coming so he approached the Lions club to see if we would take over his 5000 books,” said Max.

“He was active in the bookshop pretty much right up until he died.

“We have a great legacy to him.”

The store operates on Monaro Street right beside the Queanbeyan Leagues Club which provides the premises for the Lions rent-free.

Charities it’s raised funds for include Home in Queanbeyan, the St Benedict’s Community Centre, Karabar Housing Cooperative, Louisa Domestic Violence Service and Barnardos.

The dedicated team of volunteers have also been nominated as finalists in the NSW Volunteer Team of the Year awards, an honour they’ll find out if they’ve won early next month.

And while the book store is closed at the moment due to lockdown, Max says they’ll be open again as soon as they can.

“When the lockdown happened last year I was trying to work out who was more keen for it to re-open; the volunteers who want to offer their time or the public who want to donate and buy books,” he said.

“I think it’s very much the same this year.”

Donations can be made here.