If there’s one thing that has become incredibly clear over the past couple of months it is how important community is. At the start of this pandemic, Old Town Books, like many small businesses around the United States, began to face a new reality. Our ways of business, of learning, and of play ground to a halt overnight. In response, we did what we do best: we provided books. 

When we are stuck in one place physically, it helps to be able to escape while never leaving our homes. If only for a moment, books transport us to another world. Every member of our community deserves to have that opportunity to delve into a story and be consumed by the magic within. We know the power of this especially for children who need it the most. When libraries and schools close, the ease of access to books provided by these institutions diminishes but the need does not go away.

In an effort to help meet that need, we launched our program Book Love, which provides care packages to the community. We also matched 20% of every gift. We invited our community to help give books to those who needed them the most, and wow, did you deliver! We’ve received just shy of 100 gifts to date, and have been working to identify multiple partners for distributing the books.

In our first round of care packages, we chose Wright to Read with the Campagna Center. Wright to Read works with Alexandria City Public School students, beginning in grades 1-5, who are at least one year behind their grade level in literacy skills. Through this partnership, we’ve provided over 50 students with new reading material during COVID-19.

Wright to Read Director, Katrina Foelsche, M.Ed shared: “We’re so grateful for the team at Old Town Books and its loyal customers for participating in their Book Love program.  We were able to mail out books to our Wright to Read students --  greatly needed while in-person tutoring is suspended due to the pandemic. I can just imagine the look on one of our student’s faces when he received the new Dog Man book – thanks for spreading the joy of reading to our families!”

We know how much reading can change a young life, and are so thankful to our Old Town Books community for your generosity in helping us provide these books for the kids who need them most. We hope you’ll continue to support the Book Love program so we can make this program a staple long after the pandemic ends. Long Live the Bookshop!

Amanda Robinson

Program & Partnerships Coordinator