There is something special about opening the pages of a brand-new book. Whether you enjoy the anticipation of the journey you are about to embark on or the smell of print books, reading is one of the most enjoyed hobbies of people worldwide.
That’s why, since 2014, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) have dedicated themselves to hosting our Annual Holiday Book Drive. Although we may host the Holiday Book Drive, it is a communal effort. This labor of love takes months of planning and collecting books, non of which could be possible without the integral help of individual community members, local organizations' requests for books, and community partners like Barnes & Noble at the Asheville Mall, Capstone Health Alliance, OneEach, and The Van Winkle Law Firm.
From shopping in-person to sorting and counting ALL the collected books, the workplaces that include the Holiday Book Drive in their UWABC campaign help us provide books to our community partners.
UWABC sends a call for book requests to dozens of Buncombe County youth organizations and schools each year. Donors may donate ANY children's book, but as UWABC continues to work to center equity in all that we do, we provided a suggested book list that focuses on stories written by and about racially, ideologically, and culturally diverse authors and characters. This year 13 local organizations requested books for children 0-18 years old, and we were able to fulfill their book requests! As a result of the dedication of our donors, community partners, and workplaces, over 1,900 books were sent out to local youth organizations.
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