On Jan. 30, after spending the day running workshops and activities in San Joaquín de Flores, northwest of the capital, the staff of Club de Libros went to eat at a nearby restaurant.When they came out, they had a nasty shock.
“We had left the car in front of the restaurant,” said Evelyn Ugalde, director of the organization promoting reading in the country. “But when we left an hour later, the car was gone.”
Fortunately, the car was insured. Unfortunately, the contents were not. The organization lost a laptop computer, two cameras, a printer and a sound system, as well as coloring pencils and face paints, worth a total of ¢2.5 million (about $5,000).
To help recover some of what was lost, the Club de Libros will be holding a fundraiser at the National Culture Center (CENAC) in San José March 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities will include book readings, music, plays and a sale of secondhand and signed books. Food and children’s activities will also be available. The event’s slogan is: “They will not steal our dreams.”
Club de Libros is a national organization that aims to promote reading, share a love for books and create a meeting point for book lovers. To this end, it runs regular workshops and organizes discussions, book exchanges and other events. It also helps aspiring writers and donates books to needy schools and institutions.
Club de Libros has set up a donation account with Banco de Costa Rica. The account number is 001-770486-0, in the name of Evelyn Ugalde Barrantes. For more about Club de Libros, visit www.clubdelibros.com or call 305-6074.
