As a 100% volunteer run organization, everything we are able to accomplish depends on the dedication of the many people who choose to put in time and effort for their community. We thank everyone who has continued to support us in our mission: to spread the power and possibilities of literacy through greater access to books.
SUPPORTERS: Thank You!
Without the dedication of our volunteer team, a couple of whom have been with us since the beginning, we wouldn’t be able to meet our goals. Their help, support, and belief in the power of a good book powers us through.
Thank you also to our various private donors, several of whom have offered their support for a number of years in a row. And a big thanks goes to New Belgium Brewing and our representative there, Beks Dodds, for choosing us as a beneficiary of the 2025 New Belgium Liquid Center Annual Donations Program.
Collectively, you’ve made it possible for POP to continue our free services into our 17th year!
W.B. & Tina Ashley
Dan Barrett
Helene Beauchamp
Coco Brooks
Jayne C.
Polk Deters
Beks Dodds
Aubrie Donnellan
Barbara Fisher
Leslie Hawkins
Gracelynn Hoopingarner
Ginny Judd
Literacy Together
Kaitlyn Mariner
Stevan Mixson
Rosanna Mulcahy
New Belgium Brewing
Eliza Paul
Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO) – Raleigh chapter
Nick Phillips
Meredith Pitcairn
Robin Sheedy
Eric St. Clair
Lisa Stokes
Rebecca Trinite
DELIVERIES: Book Program Results
Our 2025 deliveries totalled 3,198 books, a value of $15,990.
That total came from 87 deliveries to 28 locations, the majority of which were in Asheville and Buncombe County.
Here’s a breakdown of 2025 as compared to the previous two years:
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| Schools and Children’s Programs | 1,023 | 152 | 91 |
| Community Nonprofits, Housing Centers, and Organizations in WNC | 1,185 | 2,182 | 275 |
| Little Libraries | 2,505 | 2,763 | 2,209 |
| Comic Books & Graphic Novels | 358 | 664 | 373 |
| Correctional Facilities | n/a | n/a | 250 |
| TOTAL FREE BOOKS DELIVERED: | 5,071 | 5,761 | 3,198 |
2025 Book Delivery Locations
Appalachian Mountain Health
Asheville Community Yoga LFL
Asheville Fire Station 2 LFL
Asheville Fire Station 5 LFL
Asheville Middle School Resource Library
Asheville Primary School
Beaver Lake LFL
BeLoved Food Pantry
Bethel Hearts for Souls Outreach Center INC
Brevard Road LFL
Brotherton Street LFL
Grassy Branch Preschool
Hall Fletcher Elementary LFL
Hillside Street LFL
Lake Tomahawk LFL
Laurel Circle LFL
Maple Street LFL
Orchard Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center
Palm and Pine Food Pantry
Recovery Ventures Corp
Swannanoa Correctional Center
The Hop
The Hop West
Trinity United Church LFL
Vermont Street LFL
Virginia Avenue LFL
Westwood Inn LFL
WNC Nature Center
FUNDS: POP’s 2025 Finances and Fundraising Results
Regretfully, it costs money to give away free books. What offsets these costs is the generosity of our private and corporate donors. We couldn’t keep our mission going without your financial support!
2025 Income and Expenses
BUDGET GOAL 2025 = $3,000
ACTUAL INCOME 2025 = $2,422.75
Here’s how our incoming funds broke down:
- Corporate Giving – 53.11%
- PayPal Giving Fund – 29.55%
- Private One-Time and Recurring Donations – 17.34%
EXPENSES 2025 = $2,790.52
- Book Storage and Transportation – 89.45%
- Administrative Costs – 8.75%
- Bank Fees – 1.80%
- Staffing and Salaries – 0.00%
Fundraising Highlight
New Belgium Liquid Center Annual Donations Program: The POP Project was excited to have been chosen as a beneficiary of the 2025 New Belgium giving program for the third year in a row! Throughout the year, guest donations are pooled and awarded to Asheville-area nonprofits, and POP was chosen as a 2025 recipient.
How You Can Help POP in 2026
The POP Project works to make sure no book goes without a home, goes unread, or sits on a shelf and collects dust, and that all of the books with which we are entrusted are used for constructive, personal expansion.
Please help us meet our goals by supporting our efforts to connect with local agencies in need of books. Do you know of any shelters, development centers, detention centers, food pantries, or healthcare facilities in Western North Carolina that could benefit from a few good books (or comic books)? Please reach out if your place of business is in need or if you have any leads.
In addition, there are many more ways to support POP’s mission and help us make a positive impact on our community. Please consider donating time, money, or ideas that will directly impact our programs.
Donations can be made via PayPal on our site or mailed to the POP Project, PO Box 18653, Asheville, NC 28814. The POP Project is a 501(c)3 organization. Please consult your tax advisor about deductible donations.