Host A Book Drive

Hosting a book drive is a great way to directly impact your community, and friends will thank you for cleaning out their bookshelves! Book Fairies works with you to tailor a collection that best fits your schedule and level of commitment. Drives can last one day, a week, or you can become an ongoing drop site. Whichever you choose, we thank you for your interest in running a book drive, and we are excited for you to contribute to the Book Fairies’ mission.

Please scroll through all of the instructions before applying to host a book drive.

1. Please complete the book drive application and let us know all of the fun details of your book drive.
2. Make sure you receive confirmation from us prior to hosting the drive. We love your passion and want to make sure we have enough room in the Book Bank for your collection.

1. We recommend advertising 1-2 weeks before the date of the drive.
2. You can download the fillable flyer via the link below or make your own.
3. We suggest posting on social media, as well as community and school pages to get the highest rate of participation for the drive.
4. Please also tag us on social media so we can help to share your drive.
   Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBookFairies
   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBookFairies/
   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookfairiesny/
   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebookfairies

1. Set up a bin or bins in a high-traffic area. As books come in, pack them into the copy paper boxes. Sorting the books as they come in is a huge help to us!
2. Ask friends and family to save copy paper boxes with lids (sized 17x12x9). This will ensure the box weight is approximately 25-30 lbs. allowing our volunteers to safely lift & carry each box. If you cannot find copy paper sized boxes, EXTRA SMALL moving boxes can be purchased from Home Depot or Lowes. Please know that when purchasing these boxes, you are also contributing to Book Fairies mission. These boxes are not only used to collect books during your drive, but we will use them again when bringing books to the schools and organizations we support. We cannot accept bags.
3. As boxes fill up, close or seal them so books don’t fall out. Please fill each box completely as we stack all incoming boxes.

1. Label the outside of the box with the appropriate category:
   1. Baby Board Books
   2. Picture Books
   3. Elementary Chapter Books
   4. Young Adult (Middle School & High School)
   5.  Adult
2. For more information on how to sort books, view our Training Video below

1. After your drive is completed you will be able to schedule a pick up or drop off day by using the link you were given in the confirmation email you received from us. We request one week’s notice for pick up. Our pick up ranges from Eastern Long Island to Eastern Queens.
2. Pick up hours are 9am – 12pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
3. If you are outside of our pick up zone, boxes can be delivered to our Book Bank via appointment scheduled through the link you received in the confirmation email.

1. Book Fairies partners with organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for our pick ups. They cannot enter your home or school beyond the doorway to collect the boxes. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. We could not sustain our mission without the IDD community’s support.
2. IMPORTANT: Our Transportation volunteers cannot take oversized or overweight boxes.

1. At the end of your drive, you will receive an email with a link to schedule your pick up or drop off. Simply indicate if the boxes are sorted or unsorted, enter the total hours spent on the drive, a brief explanation of how this time was spent, and the number of boxes ready for pickup.
2. Once the boxes arrive at the warehouse, you will receive an emailed letter from Book Fairies confirming your hours.