PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — United Way of Aroostook is excited to announce the opening of a new used book shop in the Aroostook Centre Mall. The “Book Nook” recently began offering a large variety of used books to the public.
“This book shop has a dual purpose,” said Athena Hallowell, Program and Volunteer Coordinator for United Way of Aroostook. “We see it as an opportunity for us to encourage the love of reading and literacy for readers of all ages, as well as a chance to help raise funds for our Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Early Literacy Program.”
Books are available by donation only. People are encouraged to visit the space, browse the shelves to find the books they want, and then simply leave a donation in the metal safe located in the middle of the area. United Way plans to use all donations from the Book Nook to offset the cost of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This early literacy program is currently sending new books to over 2,240 preschoolers in Aroostook County each month. The price tag of this incredible program is hefty, but realizing the benefit to the community, United Way continues to find creative ways to fund it. The Book Nook was a perfect way to do that.
The “Book Nook” idea was generated after United Way received an incredibly generous donation of thousands of wonderful books from Cubbythriftstores, LLC. and its founders Cindy and Chris Johnson. The mission of Cubbythriftstores is to support children in Aroostook County with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The organization strives to be involved in outreach services to local communities.
The donation from Cubbythriftstores, LLC and the space provided by The Aroostook Centre Mall have helped make this new project possible for United Way. Volunteers have worked many hours to arrange the books and have made it quite a cozy place to look for books.
“We’re so excited to be able to help put books in the hands of children and adults. The feedback from the community has been so positive already! People have been asking how they can help,” says Sherry Locke, Executive Director of United Way. She noted that people who might want to donate books to help continue the Book Nook can do so by dropping off used books which are in very good condition at the United Way office located in the food court area of the mall.
For more information, call 764-5197.
