Buy a book with your veggies
Good news for folks who are hungry for good food -- and a good read.
Baltimore Reads, a literacy group, is opening a book exchange at the farmer's market held each Sunday under the JFX. The organization will be there from 8 a.m. to noon, every Sunday through December 20. Shoppers can buy new and used books, or drop off donations. Proceeds benefit the organization's book bank.
I think it's a great way to raise awareness of the organization -- and raise money. In Portland. Ore., Powell's Books hosts monthly book signings at a farmer's market -- an innovative way for an indy store to build business amid pressure from online booksellers and big box stores.
Full disclosure: The Baltimore Sun has a long relationship with Baltimore Reads, which gathers books from individuals, libraries, publishers and other sources, and distributes them to teachers, families, schools and other institutions. The organization's book bank is located in the Sun's Calvert Street building, and Read Street often donates children's books to the group.
Comments
So, for instance, the pile of mystery paperbacks that is threatening to take over my house? Instead of letting it grow until the next church flea market, I could whittle it down some by stuffing my cloth bag on a Sunday morning and palming them off on Baltimore Reads? These don't have to be kid books?
Posted by: Eve | June 12, 2009 11:15 AM
Eve, here's a response from Baltimore Reads: "You can donate any kind of book (comic books, hardback, softback, any genre). We really don’t want textbooks though."
So back up that pickup truck, and haul your books to the farmer's market! Just think how much bigger your home will be.
Posted by: Dave | June 12, 2009 11:42 AM
What a fantastic idea. We have a Farmers' Market here in Bronxville, NY, on Saturdays, so I forwarded this post to the Chamber of Commerce here in town.
Posted by: Gail Farrelly | June 12, 2009 3:49 PM