Access to books starting at infancy is key to breaking intergenerational poverty. Tim Whitaker, the founder and Executive Director of Mighty Writers and I discussed irrigating book deserts by distributing books through food banks and pantries. And MW distributes LOTS of food!

It was wonderful showing Tim and his staff the Book Bank in Pennsuaken. Reach out and we'll schedule a date for a tour! ​

Our 2nd Annual Townsend Press - BookSmiles was a success.  With 224 runners and walkers, along with generous sponsors, the race is "in the books," spreading brand awareness, building community, and letting people have fun on a glorious Sunday morning!

Scores of book-lovers came to our first book sale, generating $3,200 in sales.  BookSmiles was able to give $1,500 to our cohosts, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Mount Laurel, of which Larry, our Executive Director, is a member.

We had so much fun selling grown up books that we'll do it again next year! 

There are many teachers following us who remember how they'd scrounge, beg, borrow, and steal to get a classroom library. We are stopping this by supplying teachers with UNLIMITED BOOKS that they can GIVE AWAY to students.
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Today I drove up to my alma mater, The College of New Jersey and distributed 1,100 books to 50 students who will soon graduate as teachers! All new teachers in the NJ/Philly region should visit the book bank this summer.

It helps kids become great readers if they have ACCESS starting at infancy. Peace B. Still, whom I met at the NJEA Convention,gave us ACCESS to several Trenton, New Jersey schools, and I am so grateful. Nearly 7,000 books given away to 7 schools!
Trenton has only one public library, so why not build libraries in the homes of all Trenton kids - a big DREAM that we will turn into REALITY!

DONATE your children's books so we can do this!

People who donate their children's books to pick-up agencies and big box thrifts hope their books get shared with kids in need.  But only a tiny fraction of the books get lucky. 

Think of the millions of used children's books that could be diverted from landfill and the pulpers if we had hundreds of young people like Lizzie, collecting thousands of books in their garage.  All of this book-wealth got donated to BookSmiles.  Thanks, Lizzie!

Kasey Stevens, a teacher at E.T. Hamilton Elementary in Voorhees, spearheaded a drive that yeilded 3,500 books. On the left is Principal Mary Tadley.  The best drives happen when administractor and teachers work together, inspiring the kids to share their book wealth!  Here's how to do it: ​Book Drive

Board Treasurer Heidi Bahnck has one of the coolest jobs around: being a senior editor at NFL Films. She initiated a book drive at NFL Flim's Mount Laurel headquarters, invited the BookSmiles crew over for a tour, and brought her team over for some sorting.  Thank you Heidi, for ALL that you do!

The tour of NFL Films inspired our BookSmiles team.  NFL Films was started in the early 1960s.  Founder Ed Sabol loved filming his son Steve playing football.  He approached the NFL with a $4000 investment for filming rights, convincing them that he could package the clips to ramp up viewership on TV. When Steve joined him, after graduating from college, the business skyrocketed.  A talented, artist and athelete, Steve helped his dad transform a football game into high-energy storytelling with commentary, pizzaz, and music.  NFL Films was instrumental in building the NFL into the multi-billion dollar juggernaut that it is today. 

Terry Gross, of Fresh Air with Terry Gross fame has often been called a national treasure. And BookSmiles collects book-wealth by the tractor-trailer load.
We are so proud to partner with WHYY and its educational arm, which will distribute tens of thousands of books across the Delaware Valley, particularly in underserved communities.
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How can you help? Inspire a young person to start a book drive, especially if you live in a middle class or affluent district. See our website for details! https://www.booksmiles.org/