The man wanted the box I was carrying. I’d almost made it to the front door of a Goodwill in Brooklyn, and I had no idea how he’d guessed the box was full of books. There were no labels and the top flaps were closed. I was staggering a bit under its weight, but I could have been donating kitchen supplies, clothes, or old toys. Anything!
He came toward me, a man probably in his 30s, ragged, living on the edge. His face opened into a smile and he closed the distance between us fast, holding out his arms.
“Books?” he asked. “Are those books?”
– Goodwill in Brooklyn: Donating Books to unexpected Readers
By Jessica Francis Kane
[h/t to Macaron Tea’s Blog for the image above…]
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December 13, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Nan
My daughter texted me a photo the other day of a book donation box in the parking lot of a local supermarket. She thought that was the best idea.
December 13, 2012 at 2:09 pm
lazarusdodge
Most definitely a good idea! I’ve often put stacks of books out by curbside on the weekend to let passersby take their pick. If any left over, we’ve donated to the organizations that also take clothes – they take books now. But my first choice is to give them away to people I know – but they also have to promise to pass them on to others.
Sometimes hospitals will take them. I’ve been known to leave titles in waiting rooms… 🙂
– J.