Letters: AAUW State College adjusts after canceled sale; Cooperation, not competition, needed
AAUW State College adjusts after canceled sale
In order to accept book donations for the 2021 AAUW State College Used Book Sale and to offset operating costs associated with the processing and storing donated books, we needed to find a way to sell the inventory from this May’s canceled sale. Many ideas for having a local sale were considered, but none guaranteed that safety measures related to the pandemic could be observed. Therefore, it was decided to sell most of the books to Midtown Scholars Book Store in Harrisburg. We are very grateful that this transaction will enable us to keep our Used Book Workshop running and that we were also able to award many local grants and scholarships this spring.
The remaining books, of which there are thousands, are available for donation to Centre County nonprofit groups. Categories include art, biography, cookbooks, history, textbooks, fiction and more. Interested groups may apply for books by writing stating what categories and amounts of books they would like and send to aauw.statecollege@gmail.com no later than June 30. Due to availability, not all requests will be met. Books must be picked up at the AAUW State College Used Book Workshop on Saturday, July 25, 9 a.m.-noon.
The AAUW State College will reopen for book donations on Saturday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 176 Technology Drive in Boalsburg. Updates: www.aaustatecollege.org; Facebook: AAUW-State College.
Cooperation, not competition, needed
After reading Marc A. Thiessen’s letter about SapceX and American enterprise, I admit I agree with him on one point: Capitalism is good at making useless and expensive things for rich people, and doing so more cheaply than government. The glaring question though, is about capitalism’s ability to provide more important things like equitably addressing basic needs like food, housing, living wages and health care to all people? Terrible. Why? Competition.
The only things in our lives that work to guarantee basic dignity are either socialist (yes, American socialism!: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, public schools, school lunches, libraries, farm subsidies, etc.) or charitable (churches, nonprofits, hard-working volunteers). For capitalism, there is no incentive to provide such basic and necessary services. People who don’t have money can only be exploited to provide cheaper and cheaper labor, more and more expendable “human resources.” In fact, so many of our beloved American socialist and charitable services are hard-working efforts to combat precisely these abuses of “American enterprise.”
Maybe Thiessen’s predictions are true and we will have lots of millionaires and billionaires flying into space, but why any of us should feel proud and happy about that is beyond me. I don’t think it’s ironic at all, but fitting, that just when the billionaires seek wasteful interplanetary entertainment, we stick to the good hard work of American socialism “back here on earth.” To address the problems of inequality, injustice, climate change, and poverty, we need cooperation, not competition.
Join ‘The Longest Day’ for Alzheimer’s awareness
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, and during this time the Alzheimer’s Association hosts The Longest Day. On June 20, people across the world will participate in an activity of their choice for The Longest Day. The Longest Day is held on the day with the most light – the summer solstice – to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease. This year, given the COVID-19 crisis, many The Longest Day participants are supporting the event “virtually” through “at-home” and “social-distance” activities — biking, hiking, playing bridge, knitting and more. I would love for you to join myself and others around the world to shine a light into the darkness of Alzheimer’s. Together we will raise critical awareness and funds to advance Alzheimer’s care, support and research. According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2020 Facts and Figures report, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, including over 400,000 here in Pennsylvania. In addition, more than 16 million family members and friends are providing care and support. Now is the time to join the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness and take action. I encourage you to visit alz.org/thelongestday to sign up and select an activity today.