This project is full.

Age requirements: Ages 13+

Location: 141 Flushing Ave Suite 407 (Brooklyn Navy Yard), Brooklyn, NY 11205

Suggested donation of $25/volunteer to help cover costs of Brooklyn Org Volunteer Day.

Pitch in to help increase literacy and the number of 100+ book homes in NYC for kids 0-18! Volunteers will work together to stamp and sort books that have been donated to Brooklyn Book Bodega for distributing in the community.

About Brooklyn Book Bodega

Brooklyn Book Bodega increases the number of 100+ book homes in NYC. Despite the resources and wealth in New York City—parts of our own community are classified as book deserts, areas with very few books available for sale or lending.

Book deserts affect many communities, restricting access to essential reading materials. This scarcity contributes to challenges such as health disparities, economic inequality, and educational gaps. For communities already facing numerous obstacles, limited access to books presents an additional barrier. Expanding book access is a crucial step toward fostering educational success, economic mobility, and lifelong learning for all.

Brooklyn Book Bodega views book access as a public health issue. We recognize that reading is a gateway to information and that when kids cannot access information, there is a ripple effect on many other aspects of their lives. Poor reading skills in elementary school are associated with feelings of depression and anger. A child who cannot read well is less likely to graduate high school and have career success. Literacy is tied directly to life outcomes – mental and physical health, education, and financial attainment.

Often, for children experiencing poverty, the only place where they have access to high-interest and knowledge-building books is at school or at the library. In 2023, new hardcover books for kids and teens averaged $21.85. For many New Yorkers, a new book is an unaffordable luxury. Brooklyn Book Bodega works to ensure that all children, regardless of economic circumstances, can grow up in homes filled with books.