You know those boxes of books collecting dust in your closet? The ones you keep meaning to donate but never quite get around to? Well, the folks at American Heritage Credit Union actually did something about it—and in a big way.
The credit union just wrapped up its fifth annual Recycling for Readers Drive, and this year’s haul was their biggest yet. We’re talking more than 1,575 gently-used books that are now heading to people who need them most. That’s not a typo—over fifteen hundred books, all donated by American Heritage employees who clearly take their spring cleaning seriously.
Here’s what makes this initiative cool: it’s part of their Green Team program, which means they’re keeping perfectly good books out of landfills while getting them into the hands of readers across the community. Win-win.
Where the Books Are Going
This wasn’t just a “collect and forget” situation. Fifty-three American Heritage associates rolled up their sleeves to sort, organize, and personally deliver these books to five local organizations:
- BookSmiles
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Goodwill Donation Center in Northeast Philadelphia
- Lassin Early Learning Center
- Northeast Philadelphia YMCA
Why It Matters
These aren’t just books sitting on a shelf somewhere looking pretty. They’re making real differences in real ways. The early learning centers are using them to help kids discover the magic of reading (because let’s be honest, getting a five-year-old excited about books is no small feat). Over at Fox Chase Cancer Center, patients waiting for appointments or treatment now have something to escape into during what can be incredibly stressful times.
And get this—more than 300 books went straight to the Northeast Philadelphia YMCA’s Back to School Backpack Drive. That’s 300 kids starting the school year with a book to call their own.
“We are thrilled by the remarkable success of this year’s Recycling for Readers Drive,” said Diana Clark, AVP of Payroll & Recruiting at American Heritage and the person who orchestrates this whole operation. “Over the past five years, our associates come together with enthusiasm and a shared commitment to giving back. Seeing the direct impact these donations have on individuals and organizations throughout our communities is incredibly meaningful. A special thank you to our Green Team Committee and to all the associates whose donations and volunteer efforts made this initiative possible.”
Five years running and still going strong. Not bad for a program that started with a simple idea: maybe those old books could do more good somewhere else. Turns out, they absolutely can.