What is POP’s Mission?
The POP Project finds new homes for used books, but our mission scope is much larger. POP spreads the powers of literacy throughout the community by providing a greater access to books for people who need it most.
There are strong documented correlations between access to books, long-term literacy levels, educational and professional success, and susceptibility to entering the corrections system. Simply put, reading is power. And the POP Project’s mission is to give power to the disenfranchised and the down-on-their-luck.
Why our Mission Matters
From early start programs to retirement communities, and low-income neighborhoods to the homeless, the POP Project is there to give books to people in need within our community. Often, we give to other local agencies whose clients would benefit from a greater access to books, such as Homeward Bound of Asheville’s A HOPE Day Center. Here’s what Emily Ball, Director of Community Engagement at Homeward Bound has to say about POP’s impact on their mission:
Many of our clients visit the library to use their computers, but they’re often unable to check out books due to accumulated late fees or lost library cards. Because of the POP Project, they can take books from A HOPE, and either bring them back, pass them on, or keep them for themselves. Reading provides a great escape from the grind of homelessness and can offer moments of peace in an otherwise turbulent experience.
POP’s efforts does not stop at the A HOPE Day Center. We have also given books to clients they have placed in permanent housing – because we believe no house is a home without a few books.
Donate Today!
Giving books is an important mission to us, but we cannot succeed in this mission alone. More than 80% of POP’s funding in 2013 came from private donations.
Help POP raise $3,500 by December 31.
Your one-time or recurring donation will help POP sustain our mission through 2015. If just 100 people gave $35 today, we could meet our goal. Or consider becoming a recurring donor: giving $16.17/month makes you a Storage Sponsor and makes a big difference to an organization our size.
Click below and Donate Now!