Donate a Book Day
Of all the “holidays” one could choose to observe, today’s is uniquely worthwhile: it’s National Donate a Book Day! Going through your books and creating a donation pile is a great way to practice letting go of things you don’t need anymore. It also presents an opportunity to talk about with your kids about where their books will go next and who they will help – and to that end, there are so many options we’d like to share with you!
You might choose to bring your pre-loved books right to the church: the Wesley Center accepts donations of kids’ books for use in their literacy programs. If you leave those donations in the Sunday School classroom with a note that says “Wesley Center,” we’ll get them to their new home! We also have a lending library cart in the church, which is full of spiritually-engaging books for adults; if you have something you think would make a good addition to the cart, contact the church office to find out what to do next.
Beyond the walls of Desert Mission, there are tons of additional options for book donations. Most public libraries accept book donations; in Scottsdale, donated books are sold in the library shops and the profits are used to fund early literacy programs and other community activities. Check your local branch to see if they’re currently accepting donations. Zooming out even further, Bookroo has created a “definitive guide” to book donations, which include options you might not have thought of, like under-resourced school libraries, assisted living facilities, and even prisons. You’ll find ideas and links here.
If you’d like to make book donation a habit, one of the easiest things to do is to patronize is a Little Free Library. These are book exchange boxes located out in the wild, in communities around the world. Little Free Libraries are overseen by a non-profit committed to providing book access to readers everywhere, and there are currently 150,000 libraries in 120 countries! To find your nearest one, search this map of locations – and if there isn’t one nearby, consider starting your own! Everything you need to begin is on their website.
Studies have shown that one of the best things you can do to set up a child for success is to give them access to books. Books expand vocabulary, build empathy, spark imagination, and open up the world to their readers! Read more about the amazing benefits of books here, and then get to work! Scour your shelves, make some hard decisions, and give the books you no longer need a new life with someone else.
Happy Donate a Book Day! Share your favorite donation sites with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
