Bring Book Fairs to Kids in Shelters!

Hi everyone! A few years ago, when I was volunteering in family shelters, I realized there was a real missing link between the kids who needed books and the people who wanted to help them! Even though lots of people wanted to donate used books, the shelters didn't have the time or staff to screen them for quality in terms of both content and condition.

Children in transitional housing frequently need literacy support and book-friends more than anyone, but their financial and housing situations makes buying books or using local libraries really difficult. And family shelters often don't have the space or resources to store book donations or build the libraries they really want to provide.

What we really needed was someone to help pick out only the highest quality and educational books; to store the books and bring them to the shelters (and take them away); and to create a way for the kids to get to pick out their own books — books of their own choosing, not random donations, making them a lot more likely to read them! And a lot more likely to fall in love with reading!

And so, The Bookfair Mobile was born! At our fairs, every child (0-17 years old) receives a special “My Library” tote bag to fill with the books they actually love and that can always travel with them whatever their housing situation might be. We provide everything for the fairs for free — the books, the tote bags, the tables, the balloons and snacks, and librarian volunteers to help the children find the books they really love and want to read.

I am launching this GoFundMe campaign in order to help support the cost of our fairs. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to buying the tote bags, balloons and snacks that help make our fairs a real celebration of kids and books! (Our books are all donated by our school and library partners; the librarians help me carefully select only the highest quality books for the kids we serve.)

I created a website to explain more about the work of The Bookfair Mobile. You can click here to find out more.

Books really can be best friends, friends who are always there and always welcome you, and have been there for me many times in my life. Please help me bring book fairs to as many kids in shelters around the NYC area as possible!

A book is a friend for life! And we could all use a friend sometimes.

Thank you!

Emmeline