9th Annual Community Book Drive
Collecting books August 1 – September 9, 2021
For children ages 0-11
The Community Book Drive is a partnership of the United Way of Washington County, Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC), Hagerstown Rotary Club, Bester Community of Hope, the Judy Center, and the Early Childhood Advisory Council. Over its eight year history, the Community Book Drive has collected and distributed more than 100,000 books for children’s literacy efforts.
More than 17,000 books were collected in 2019 and used through the new Community Book Warehouse, which distributes them to community organizations, schools and individuals to get them into the hands of vulnerable children. The Book Drive was not held in 2020 due to COVID, so we are looking forward to an even better collection this year!
Everyone can collect books! Work with your churches, civic groups, businesses, and other organizations to collect age appropriate books, specifically geared to children ages birth through eleven (elementary school). Donated books can be new or gently used. Any books in this age group are eagerly accepted, but if you’re purchasing, a list of Recommended Books is below. If you want to support the effort without donating books, donations of funds to purchase books are gratefully accepted and will be used to purchase new books at about half the retail cost, so your funds will go twice as far! To donate financially, you can:
- Mail a check to HARC, P.O. Box 1158, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1158
- Use our online donation form and mark “book drive” in the designation field.
Posters/flyers for collection sites and distribution:
About Community Book Drive
Current Collection Sites
Recommended Books
Drop Here 8 x 11
Drop Here 11 x 17
Top 10 11 x 17
Top 10 Revision 8 x 10
In addition to the “Recommended Books,” we also suggest books that reflect diversity as those are greatly needed
If your group would like to collect books for the book drive, please contact Terri Gwizdala at gwizzy2000@gmail.com or Kathy Powderly at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.
Books will be collected at the following participating locations:
(This list will be regularly updated as sites are confirmed/added. Please note that locations without addresses and hours are not open for public drop-offs).
A to Z Insurance Services
10226 Governor Lane Blvd, Suite 4007 Williamsport. Open M-F, 9-5
Blue Ridge Risk Partners (formerly Keller Stonebraker)
Book Savers (donating books)
Christ’s Reformed Church
130 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown. M-F 9-3
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church of the Holy Trinity UCC ($1,100 donation to purchase books)
City of Hagerstown, Department of Community & Economic Development
Congregation B’nai Abraham
David Poole
Desert Rose Cafe
2 E Potomac St, Williamsport.
Discovery Station
101 W Washington St., Hagerstown. Thurs-Sun, 12-4
First Christian Church
1345 Potomac Ave, Hagerstown. M, Tu, Th 8-1 & 2-4, W 8-2:30, F 8-1 & 2-3
FiServ
Hagerstown Area Religious Council
Hagerstown Church of the Brethren
Hagerstown City Hall
1 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown. M-F 8-4
Hagerstown Community College
11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. Learning Resource Center, M-Th 8:30 – 6 and Friday 8:40 – 4:30
Haven Lutheran Church
Hebron Mennonite Church
Horizon Goodwill Industries (donating books)
Maryland Food Bank
Meritus Medical Center
Mulberry Lofts
Otterbein United Methodist Church
Patriot Federal Credit Union
Northpoint: 18721 Longmeadow Rd, Hagerstown. M-Th 8:30 – 6, Fri 8:30 – 7, Sat 8:30 – 1
Robinwood: 11067 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. M-Th 8:30 – 5:30, Fri 8:30 – 7, Sat 8:30 – 1
Register of Wills for Washington County
Rehoboth United Methodist Church
16829 Lappans Rd., Williamsport. Books can be dropped off anytime at the cross at the building entrance.
Salem United Methodist Church
St. Andrews United Methodist Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church
St. John’s Lutheran Church
141 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Mon-Thurs, 8:30 – noon & 1-4:30
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown
United Way of Washington County
Unity of Hagerstown
University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH)
Washington County Health Department
Western Maryland Hospital
Volvo Powertrain
Willow Brook Adventist Church
Women’s Club
Books will be picked up from participating collection sites September 10-15 by volunteer drivers. Books will be sorted and counted on the United Way Day of Caring, Thursday, September 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hagerstown. Collected books will be distributed throughout the community to vulnerable children and early childhood literacy programs by way of the Community Book Warehouse.
