Pawtuxet Village’s Trinity Church is practicing community outreach through a simple manner. The church has partnered with the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP) to host a book sale this weekend.

The church will raise funds from the proceeds and donate a portion to RIMP. In addition, Trinity and RIMP will use the sale to collect backpacks and school supplies for local schools to give to children who need them. Mayor Scott Avedisian, the senior warden at Trinity, said the event is a great opportunity for residents to finally remove their old books from their homes and support two causes at once.

“We all have those stacks of books we’ve read once and have never picked up again,” he says. “This will raise money for the church, which from the perspective of a senior warden is always good.”

The idea came from Trinity parishioner Christopher Margadonna, a Pilgrim High School alumnus, Warwick native and Rhode Island College graduate who formerly served on the vestry at Trinity. Margadonna wanted to find use for the spare books in the church’s reading room while also making the back to school season a little brighter for students in need.

“We just had so many [books] that I thought we could try to sell them,” he says. “We always do social outreach throughout the year…but we do see a need for backpacks and school supplies even in some of these affluent cities like Warwick and Cranston. There are pockets of people who can’t afford these things.”

Margadonna sent out emails and Facebook blasts to get church and community members to donate their books. RIMP also collected books and helped promote the event. Marc Mainville, RIMP’s communications coordinator, says the organization is happy to take part.

“We definitely appreciate Trinity Church for thinking of us as a nonprofit they wanted to share the proceeds with,” he says.

After the sale, Mayor Avedisian adds, the donated backpacks will be filled with the donated supplies and delivered to principals to hand out at local schools. Trinity and RIMP are hoping the weekend will see a high turnout and are excited about the prospect of giving back.

“I like the idea that we do good things, and that’s why I work with my church. Yes, we’re doing this in the name of God, but I’m doing this because it’s a good thing to do and this is a great outlet to do it,” Margadonna says. “Where else would I be able to do this besides a church?”

The sale takes place at the church on Ocean Avenue in Cranston this Saturday, August 27 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, August 28 from 12-4 p.m. Hardcover books will sell for $3 each and paperbacks for $1 each. Books of all kinds will be available for sale, and donations will be accepted throughout the weekend.