RUN A BOOK DRIVE
Book drives are the lifeblood of Bright Star Books. By organizing one in your neighborhood, school, workplace, or place of worship, YOU become the crucial bridge between children who need books and books that need new readers.
SIGN UP TO RUN A DRIVEBook Drive Kit
HOW TO RUN YOUR DRIVE
Follow these steps and you'll have a successful book drive that puts books in the hands of children who need them most.
Get Permission & Sign Up
Secure a location — your school, workplace, neighborhood, or place of worship. Once you have permission, email us at [email protected] with your name and contact information, the book drive location, and the dates it will take place.
Tell Everybody You Know
Announce your drive about two weeks in advance to give people enough time to find those old boxes of books. Send an introductory email, celebrate the day your drive kicks off with an opening announcement, and send a reminder when there are about three days left.
What to Donate
We primarily serve children ages 0–10, so we're looking for Board Books, Picture Books, Leveled Readers, and early Chapter Books. Please only collect books in good condition — books that are no longer in respectable shape are not useful to us or the children we serve.
Get Your Donors Informed
People are more likely to participate if they know where their books are going. Share information about Bright Star Books and the impact book donations have on limited-resource children in Greater Akron. An in-kind donation receipt is available for donors upon request.
Designate a Donation Area
Set up a clearly marked collection spot. It doesn't have to be fancy — a designated area on the floor works fine! Just keep in mind: the bigger the box or bag, the harder it is to carry once it's full of books.
Bring Us the Books
Count your books before dropping them off at our headquarters — it saves our team a ton of time and lets you share the exciting total with your donors right away. Drop off at 1357 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310.
Celebrate!
Give yourself a big pat on the back! Thanks to your efforts, many children in Greater Akron will be excited to share a book with a loved one or discover something new. Post a selfie with #IRock and let the world know what you did!
Sample Emails & Resources
Download our ready-made templates and materials to make your drive a success.
Why It Matters
YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN
Books Find New Readers
Most families have shelves of children's books their kids have outgrown. A book drive is the bridge that connects those books to children who need them.
Community-Powered
Book drives work because communities come together. Whether it's a school, a workplace, or a neighborhood, collective action moves thousands of books.
Direct Impact
Every book collected goes directly to a child served by one of Bright Star Books' partners, all of which are organizations that serve children living in limited-resource situations.
Easy to Organize
You don't need a big budget or a lot of experience. With our guidance and your enthusiasm, a successful book drive is totally within reach.
What We Accept
BOOKS FOR AGES 0–10
Bright Star Books primarily serves children ages 0–10. We are mainly looking for books appropriate for those ages in good condition.
Drop-Off Location
BRING BOOKS TO HQ
Once your drive is complete, please call, or text the number below, or email [email protected] to make arrangements to bring your collected books to our headquarters. Please count the books before you arrive — it saves our team a ton of time and lets you share the exciting total with your donors right away.
Bright Star Books Headquarters
1357 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310
(330) 705-4516
READY TO START YOUR DRIVE?
Email us to sign up and we'll help you every step of the way.