United We Serve Summer Book Drive
Book Drive
NC Literacy Council 25th Anniversary Celebration
Now – July 24
New and used books for all ages, all genres will be distributed to Ronald MacDonald House, children’s hospitals, homeless shelters, recreational centers, correctional facilities, summer camps, and other sites.
The book drive is part of President Obama’s recent United We Serve initiative, encouraging volunteerism in communities all across America.
Books may be paper or hard back – but in good condition, please.
COLLECTION SITES
- Barnes & Noble in New Hope Commons
- Cup-a-Joe in Timberlyne Shopping Center
- Great Outdoor Provision Company in Eastgate Mall
- Maple View Farms in Hillsborough
- Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill
- Waldenbooks in University Mall
- Weaver Street Market in Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Southern Village
UPDATE
Thanks to many of you, over 3,000 (that’s right, 3,000!!!) books and books-on-tape have now been collected as part of our United We Serve book drive. Most of these books already have been or will soon be delivered to: Read Seed, Inc., a nonprofit which distributes books during the summer months to children living in public housing in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Roxboro; the Home Start shelter serving women and children in the Chapel Hill area; and Public Health Department clinics and correctional facilities throughout Orange County. We are also hoping to establish a long-term relationship with TABLE and its weekend backpack program, adding a new book to weekly backpacks currently filled with healthy foods and beverages for at-risk children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro public schools.
If you would like to donate new or gently used books, please drop them off between now and July 24th in the United We Serve bins set up at the following locations: Weaver Street Markets (in Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Southern Village), Mapleview Ice Cream Shop in Hillsborough, Cup-of-Joe in Timberlyne, Seymour Senior Center, Waldenbooks at University Mall, Great Outdoor Provision Company at Eastgate, and Barnes & Noble in New Hope Commons. Many thanks to local vendors for providing this convenient service to our book drive.
If there are no books in your home to donate but you would like to participate in our drive, simply purchase a book or two at Waldenbooks in University Mall or Barnes & Noble in New Hope Commons. Collection bins are set up near the cash registers at both stores to accept all donations.
There are other ways to lend a helping hand. We will be sorting through and boxing up donated books this Sunday, July 26th, beginning at 6:00 pm, at Susan Romaine’s house in Lake Hogan Farms (218 Lake Manor Road, Chapel Hill, 27516). Volunteers are desperately needed and refreshments will be served.
You can also spread literacy by simply spreading the word about our book drive. Please let friends, neighbors, family, and precinct workers know about our United We Serve book drive and the collection sites nearest you. If we each give a little, together we can make a big difference in raising literacy in our community.









