Bendigo Foodshare is seeking additional volunteers ahead of its annual Spring Book Fair, with multiple shifts still available during the AFL Grand Final long weekend.

The local not-for-profit organisation is preparing for the three-day book fair, which will feature thousands of donated books and other items including magazines, records, CDs and DVDs. The event is one of Bendigo Foodshare’s major annual fundraising activities and is expected to attract tens of thousands of book and collectible enthusiasts.

The organisation is asking community members to help fill volunteer shifts across the event. Volunteers play an important role in preparing the venue, assisting visitors and helping the fair operate across the busy three-day period.

Event coordinator Garth Keech said volunteers were central to the success of the Spring Book Fair and that their contribution had an ongoing impact on the community. The organisation relies heavily on community participation to help deliver the event.

This year’s Spring Book Fair is targeting more than $30,000 in fundraising. Money raised through purchases at the event will support Bendigo Foodshare’s work providing food assistance to people experiencing hardship in the local community.

Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy said the community had continued to support the book fair over successive years. According to the organisation, money generated through purchases helps provide food to local people doing it tough.

The 2026 fair will have an expanded layout compared with previous events. Organisers are planning an exclusive collectibles room alongside the broader selection of books and other media.

The event is expected to attract both regular visitors and collectors looking for unusual or second-hand items. The variety of material available means the fair is designed for different interests, from readers searching for books to people interested in records, CDs, DVDs and collectibles.

Volunteering at the event also provides an opportunity for community members to contribute directly to a local fundraising initiative. The organisation says volunteers are essential to the event's operation, particularly given the expected attendance and the number of shifts required across three days.

The Spring Book Fair is being held during the AFL Grand Final long weekend, a period when many people in Bendigo and surrounding communities will have additional time to attend local events.

Foodshare’s fundraising activities are connected to its broader role in supporting people facing food insecurity. Revenue from the fair contributes to the organisation’s capacity to provide food assistance locally.

The latest announcement was published on Friday, 18 September 2026, making it a same-day Bendigo community story. It is separate from the previous Bendigo crime and court story and has not been included as a repeat.

The event organisers are currently focused on recruiting enough volunteers to cover the required shifts and ensure the three-day fair can operate effectively.

For Bendigo residents interested in supporting a local community organisation, volunteering at the Spring Book Fair is one of the opportunities currently being promoted by Bendigo Foodshare.