Top

Menu

Hagerstown Area Religious Council

The Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) is a coalition of churches and houses of faith in the Hagerstown area of Washington County.

Community Book Drive

8th Annual Community Book Drive
Collecting books August 1 – September 12, 2019
For children ages 0-11

The Community Book Drive is a partnership of the Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC), United Way of Washington County, and Hagerstown Rotary Club. Last year more than 14,000 books were collected and used through the new Community Book Warehouse, which is distributing them to community organizations, schools and individuals to get them into the hands of vulnerable children.

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; you can

  • Mail a check to HARC, P.O. Box 1158, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1158
  • Use our online donation button above

Posters/flyers for collection sites and distribution:

If your group would like to collect books for the book drive, please contact Terri Gwizdala at gwizzy2000@gmail.com or Kathy Powderly at kathy.harc@gmail.com or 301-842-4272.

Visit the Early Childhood Advisory Council website for more information about early childhood education and literacy in Washington County.

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.  M-F 9 am -5 pm

Amcor Hagerstown

Bella Salon and Spa
1691 Langley Drive, Hagerstown.  T-F 9-4

Boonsboro First Christian Church
12-A St. Paul St., Boonsboro.  Mondays August 5, 12, 19, 26 from 2-6 pm

Boonsboro Middle School

Breast Cancer Awareness Cumberland Valley
12916 Conamar Drive, Suite 201, Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30 – 4:00

Bridge of Life Church
12 S. Potomac St.  M-F 9-12:30

Christ’s Reformed Church
130 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown.  M-F 9 am – 3:30 pm

Church of the Holy Trinity

City Hall, Hagerstown
1 E Franklin St., Room 202, Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30 – 4:30

City of Hagerstown, Department of Community & Economic Development
14 North Potomac Street, Suite 200A, Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30 – 4:30

Clear Spring Middle School

Concordia Lutheran Church

Congregation B’Nai Abraham

Desert Rose Café
2 E Potomac St, Williamsport.  M-Th 8-8, F-Sat 8-9, Sun 9-8

Discovery Station
101 W Washington St, Hagerstown.  Tues-Sat 10-4

Doing Better Business
14500 Byers Road, Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30 – 5:00

First Christian Church
1345 Potomac Ave, Hagerstown.  M, T, Th, F 8-1 and 2-4; W 8-2:30

First Data

First United Bank
130 S Edgewood Dr, Hagerstown.  M-Th 9-5, F 9-6, Sat 9-noon
1646 Wesel Blvd, Hagerstown.  M-Th 9-3, F 9-6, Sat 9-noon
19405 Emerald Square, Suite 1000, Hagerstown.  M-F 9-6, Sat 9-noon
100 S Main St, Smithsburg.  M-Th 9-3, F 9-6, Sat 9-noon

Growing Tree Preschool

Hagerstown Community College
William Brish Library – Learning Resource Center, 2nd floor (open M-Th 8:30am-6pm and F 8:30am-4:30pm; Closed Saturdays and Sundays)
Student Center lobby (open M-Th 8:00am-7pm and F 8:00am-4:30pm; Closed Saturdays and Sundays)

Hagerstown Church of the Brethren
15 S. Mulberry St., Hagerstown.  M-F 9-2

Hagerstown Police Department

Hagerstown Rotary Club

Hagerstown Sunrise Rotary

Hamilton Nissan
1929 Dual Highway, Hagerstown.  M-F 8-8, Sat 9-6

Haven Lutheran Church
1037 Haven Rd., Hagerstown.  M-F 9 am – 1 pm

Herald-Mail Media
100 Summit Ave., Hagerstown.  M-F 8-5 at front desk

Horizon Goodwill Industries

Hospice of Washington County

John Wesley United Methodist Church
129 N Potomac St., Hagerstown.  M, Tu, Th or F 8am – 2pm. Use entrance at handicap ramp, ring doorbell.

Keller Stonebraker Insurance, Inc.
1120c Professional Court, Hagerstown.  M-F 8-4

The Kosie Nest, A Family Daycare

Maryland Food Bank
220 McRand Court, Hagerstown.  Tu 8-12, W 10-2, Th 12-4

Maryland Vision Institute
220 Champion Dr #100, Hagerstown.  M-F 8-4
263 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Hancock.  M-F 8-4

Meritus Family Practice/Community Book Warehouse
24 N Walnut Street, Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30 – 5:00

Meritus Medical Center

Middletown Valley Bank
6721 Old National Pike, Hagerstown.  8:30 – 4:00
1101 Professional Court, Hagerstown.  8:30 – 4:00
13418 Marsh Pike, Hagerstown.  8:30 – 4:00

Mt. Nebo Preschool

Mt. Zion Lutheran Church

Mulberry Lofts
22 N. Mulberry Street, Suite #101 Hagerstown.  Box inside The Nook

Otterbein United Methodist Church
108 E. Franklin Street, Hagerstown.  M-F 8-4

Patriot Federal Credit Union
11067 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown.  M-F 8-4
18721 Longmeadow Road, Hagerstown.  M-F 8-4

Peterson, Marisa

Potomac Case Management
324 E Antietam St, Suite 304,  Hagerstown.  M-F 8-4:30

Register of Wills
100 W. Washington Street Suite 3400, Hagerstown.  8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Smithsburg Middle School

Soroptimist of Washington County

St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church

St. John’s Episcopal Church
101 S. Prospect St., Hagerstown

St. John’s Lutheran Church

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
601 W. Washington Ave., Hagerstown. Tues – Th 9-3

Trinity Lutheran Church, Boonsboro

TSYS Managed Services

Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown

United Bank
18750 N. Pointe Dr., Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30-4:00
1219 Mount Aetna Rd., Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30-4:00

United Way of Washington County
83 W Washington St., Suite 101, Hagerstown.  M-F 9-5

University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH)

Valley Co-op
Hagerstown City Market, 25 West Church Street, Hagerstown.  Sat 9-12

Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Washington County Health Department
1302 Pennsylvania Ave, Hagerstown.  M-F 8 am – 5 pm

Western Maryland Hospital
1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown.  8 am – 7 pm (follow directions to back door)

Williamsport Rotary Club

Women’s Club
31 S. Prospect St., Hagerstown

Zion Reformed UCC
201 N Potomac St., Hagerstown.  M-F 8:30 – 12:30

Books will be picked up from participating collection sites September 13-18 by volunteer drivers (thanks to HCC, Weiss Brothers, and Raymond Holton).  Books will be sorted and counted on the United Way Day of Caring, Thursday, September 19 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hagerstown.  Collected books will be distributed throughout the community where most needed for early childhood literacy programs and vulnerable children.

HARC Community Thanksgiving Service

O Come and be Thankful!! The Hagerstown Area Community Thanksgiving Service An ecumenical, interfaith service of thanks sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) and hosted this year by First Christian Church. This service is free and open to the public as we express our commonality in giving thanks.

Learn more