For Immediate Release
Contact: Benay Hicks, Chief External Relations Officer
857-225-5039
Book Harvest Partners with Local Organizations to Provide 15,331 Children’s Books for Hurricane Relief in Western North Carolina
Durham, NC (March 12, 2025): In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, many children in Western North Carolina lost access to their home, school, and public libraries—just when books were needed most for comfort, learning, and resilience. Book Harvest, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring books for every child, support for every parent, and literacy for every community, stepped in to help, providing thousands of children’s books to replenish bookshelves across 17 counties.
Partnering with 19 local organizations and dozens of local leaders, Book Harvest provided 15,331 children’s books—mostly brand new—to schools and community groups reaching children and families in areas hit by the storm. The Durham-based Book Harvest team drove its signature book truck to deliver the books in two trips, on December 9, 2024, and March 7, 2025.
“Hurricane Helene not only caused a lot of physical destruction in our area, but also closed down schools and caused more trauma for kids who had already been through COVID-19,” said Monica Antonazzo, Organizational Sustainability Coach with Southwestern Child Development Commission. “For many children, books will be cherished replacements for those that have been lost. For others, a new book will be an exciting ray of sunshine to help brighten the days of kids who have been through so much.”
Book Harvest’s relief efforts reached schools in McDowell, Buncombe, and Haywood counties, as well as a network of community-based organizations supporting child care centers, families with young children, and local civic groups, including the Rotary Club of Brevard. Books were provided to children through school and community events, home visits, and mobile literacy units such as a preschool on wheels and a magic book bus.
“We are so thankful for the opportunity to share the love of reading with the littlest minds in our community, building connections between caregiver and child.” said Jamie Wiener, Executive Director of Children and Family Resource Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Book Harvest remains committed to supporting hurricane relief efforts in Western North Carolina, helping families rebuild home libraries and fostering early childhood learning and resilience. Additional initiatives include the Books on Break program in partnership with Haywood County Schools and the Williams YMCA of Avery County, as well as offering Grab & Go books for pick-up at Book Harvest’s headquarters in Durham, NC.
“Books provide comfort, joy, and a sense of normalcy—especially in times of upheaval,” said Ginger Young, Founder and CEO of Book Harvest. “At Book Harvest, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to grow up in a home filled with books, no matter the circumstances. We are honored to stand alongside our partners in Western North Carolina to help rebuild home libraries and ensure that children have access to the stories that inspire, heal, and bring hope.”
Community members who wish to contribute to this effort can learn more or donate at bookharvest.org.
Book Harvest’s hurricane relief efforts were made possible through partnerships with the following organizations dedicated to supporting children and families:
Ashe County Partnership for Children
Asheville Dream Center
Blue Ridge Partnership for Children
Clyde Elementary School, Haywood County Schools
Children’s Council of Watauga County
Children and Family Resource Center
Hot Springs Public Library
Iredell Partnership for Children
North Carolina Partnership for Children
Old Fort Elementary School, McDowell County Schools
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School, McDowell County Schools
Read 2 Succeed Asheville
Rotary Club of Brevard
Smart Start of Transylvania County
Smart Start Partnership for Children in Henderson County
Southwestern Child Development Commission
Swannanoa Christian Center
Verner Center for Early Learning
W.D. Williams Elementary School, Buncombe County Schools
World Vision
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About Book Harvest:
Book Harvest’s mission is books for every child, support for every parent, and literacy for every community. Internationally recognized for its work to transform children's literacy, Book Harvest has provided more than 2.4 million books to children and families since its founding in 2011, ensuring that children grow up from birth owning an abundance of books and that parents have the tools and power to ignite and strengthen their children's literacy for a lifetime. With programs that are grounded in evidence, Book Harvest believes that literacy starts at birth, in the home, powered by parents, and nourished with books. Learn more at bookharvest.org.
Access photos, logos, videos, and b-roll: https://bookharvest.org/media-kit/
Contact: Benay Hicks, Chief External Relations Officer
857-225-5039, benay@bookharvest.org