Spreading Goodwill Through Books
2018 NACo Achievement Award Winner
Henrico County, Va., VA
Best In Category
About the Program
Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)
Year: 2018
In April 2017, Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) Department of Library Services, and Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia established a partnership to supply books to the students and families of Henrico County, Virginia. Goodwillâs Central Virginia support center, located in Richmond, processes around a million donated books a week, most of which end up being recycled. In spring 2017, Goodwill staff members contacted Henrico County Public Schools after seeing a news story about the school divisionâs request for book donations. HCPS asked for donations of new and gently used books to schools to support the divisionâs new âReading and Writing Across the Curriculum Challengeâ in secondary schools. HCPS Library Services has coordinated a weekly opportunity for HCPS staff members to attend Goodwill and choose free books for school use. As of Jan. 31, 2018, more than 40,000 books have been reclaimed and distributed to Henrico County students and families as a result of the âSpreading Goodwill Through Booksâ initiative.