Where to Donate Used Books in Charlotte
Plus: Donate new books for foster kids through July 28
A book is a simple thing that can make a real difference in a child's life: Many children don't have bookshelves overflowing with heroes, princesses, knights, dragons, colorful characters, cars, animals, shapes and wonderful stories that make bedtime something special for the entire family and promote learning and literacy. Now through Sunday, July 28, all Mattress Firm stores are accepting new books and monetary donations to give to local foster children. Donations will be distributed to Children's Hope Alliance and Children's Home Society of North Carolina. Click here to find a store.
And if you have some gently used books ready for a new home, there are many local organizations in Charlotte—like the ones listed below—that can use them to do good.
Promising Pages
Promising Pages is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and more than 100,000 free books annually through partnerships with social service partners. You can drop off donations of fewer than 200 books at the South End bin, located across the street from 204 E. Peterson Drive in Charlotte. Look for the brown metal donation bin outside the CBI warehouse fence.
photo provided by promising pages
You can make your book donation in South End any time.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Give books to one of your favorite places to discover new authors and hear memorable stories – the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The library accepts donations of new or gently used books to include in general circulation or for book sales. To donate, bag or box your books in containers that do not need to be returned and take them to your local library branch or the Main Library located at 310 N. Tryon Street. At the main branch, deliveries are received at the loading dock Monday through Friday 7 a.m.-2 p.m. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library does not accept magazines, encyclopedias or damaged items.
Julia's Cafe and Books
It's a bookstore! It's a cafe! And it's a great place to donate the books and media your family has outgrown. Julia's Cafe and Books is owned and operated by Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. Donate books and media including VHS tapes, DVDs, vinyl records, video games and more to Julia's Cafe and Books at 1133 N. Wendover Road. While there grab a coffee or pastry, snack or salad and fill up!
YMCA of Greater Charlotte
YMCA of Greater Charlotte accepts book donations at any YMCA of Greater Charlotte location. These donations support the Y Readers and Parents as Teachers programs which serve low-income families where often the ratio of books to a child is 1 age-appropriate book for every 300 children. The Y also kicks off the year with a book drive across several YMCA branches. This past January, more than 11,500 were collected.
photo courtesy of the ymca of greater charlotte
The YMCA of Greater Charlotte accepts donations of gently used books all year and hosts a book drive in January.
Classroom Central
Clear the shelves and help build up the classroom library of a local teacher through donations to Classroom Central. They are especially in need of Kindergarten through 12th grade reading materials. Donate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-noon at 2116 Wilkinson Blvd.
photo courtesy of classroom central
Your donation to Classroom Central will help a local teacher build their library.
Have other items to donate like shoes, toys and other miscellaneous items? Find out where you can take those.
Courtney McLaughlin is a freelance writer, mom and lover of good stories.
