COME SERVE WITH US AT "BOOKS FOR THE WORLD" PROJECT
We have a NEW Books for the World warehouse...and our 2024 Book Sortings have RESUMED!
Want to volunteer? Click here to register!
Have questions? Click here to send an email
The new location for our Books for the World warehouse Cubework Houston Warehouse at 3401 Navigation Blvd. in Houston, Texas 77003. and each sorting will be held 9 AM until noon.
Here's the sorting dates for 2024:
Jan 13 & 27, Feb 10 & 24, March 2, April 6 & 20, May 4 & 8, and June 15 & 29
Time for each sorting: 9 AM - Noon
"When you teach somebody how to read, they have that for a lifetime. It ripples through the community, one by one." Mark Wilson, Rotary Club member.
- Four Projects in One: Literacy/Supporting Education - International - Vocational/Growing Local Economies, - Recycling/Protecting the Environment.
- Monthly Project Volunteer Opportunity (Click here for the schedule): 3-hour book sortings are held on Saturdays each month at the Books for the World warehouse, Cubework Houston Warehouse at 3401 Navigation Blvd. in Houston, Texas 77003.
- Impact of Project: Books for the World Project was started in 2001 in Houston and we've shipped and donated US160 million dollars of books totaling over 16,000,000 pounds!
- Scope of Project: This is the largest book project in the Rotary world shipping books to Rotary clubs in 24+ countries across the globe which they then donate to their local schools, libraries, universities, and other educational facilities.
This project couldn't happen without our remarkable volunteers, and donors! Rotarians, Rotaractors, high school Interact club members and community volunteers at the Books for the World warehouse in Pasadena sorting. The donated books are separated into categories (school textbooks, children's books, reference books, etc.), placed in boxes, then stacked on export pallets for shipment from the Port of Houston to Rotary clubs in 24+ countries. Those Rotarians then donate these books to their local schools, libraries, and other educational institutions.
For many students and schools, our books are the first books they've ever had.
Want more details about volunteering or donating books or volunteering?
The Second Wind Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and donations are accepted!
Visit Books For The World Website
COME VOLUNTEER WITH US!
Each month, our high school Interact club members, Rotarians, Rotaractors and young professionals team up at the Books for the World warehouse, Cubework Warehouse at 3401 Navigation Blvd. in Houston, Texas 77003. They volunteer together for 3-hours to sort and palletize the books donated from school districts, local libraries, and individuals in Houston, throughout Texas, plus other states.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER AND/OR DONATE BOOKS?
Here's the upcoming 2024 dates:
purpose of project
"When you teach somebody how to read, they have that for a lifetime. It ripples through the community, one by one." Mark Wilson, Rotary Club member.
- According to Save The Children, globally 393 million children under age 10 can't read!
- More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate (that's 17 percent of the world's adult population)
- Our landfills are filling up, and this project helps protect the environment. It is a "reduce, reuse, recycle" project since the books are saved from landfills. and the steel ocean containers are repurposed rather than destroyed.
Started by Rotary Club of Seabrook Rotarians, Past District Governor Charlie and Past Assistant Governor Barb Clemmons founded the Second Wind Foundation and created the Books for the World Project.
The Second Wind Foundation gives these books their "second wind" to be used to educate even more children. Second Wind is on the State of Texas' approved list to receive the outdated textbooks from schools districts for export.
HOW DO WE OBTAIN OUR BOOKS?
School districts, groups, private schools, libraries, plus individuals and Rotary clubs in the USA donate children's books, college books, dictionaries and reference books to this project.
Every 3-years, the State of Texas and several other states, purchase new elementary, middle school, and high school textbooks for each campus.
What happens to the old textbooks when they are outdated/replaced?
Since districts are prohibited from reselling the books, districts shred the books and are dumped into landfills.
Rather that paying to shred, and dispose of outdated textbooks, school districts instead donate their books to Second Wind Foundation, and then Rotarians, Interactors, and others volunteer to sort and palletize the donated books for shipment.
The 40-foot shipping containers are purchased by Second Wind Foundation, then loaded with the pallets, and shipped via the Port of Houston for delivery to Rotarians in the other countries. The books are then given to teachers, schools, and libraries for free, and the containers are then converted into libraries or clinics.
THE 40-FOOT STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINERS ARE ALSO RECYCLED!
In addition to the books, the 40-foot steel shipping containers used for exporting the books are also donated to the local Rotary club in the community in each country. The Rotarians transform them into medical clinics, community centers, libraries, etc. to help support the local community.
Shown below is a container converted into a library in Swaziland.
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