Aloha, La Jolla!
Jane Semelsberger’s heart sank.
The La Jolla Meals on Wheels program director was eager to see the tiny nonprofit’s new workspace. But when she stepped into the La Jolla United Methodist Church basement, she discovered several hundred books staring back at her.
The thought of retreating never crossed her mind: La Jolla United Methodist Church’s generous donation made it possible for La Jolla Meals on Wheels to secure a new home, large enough to accommodate its meal delivery equipment and carts. In return for the rent-free space, Jane agreed to remove the books stored there.
After pausing to take a deep breath, Jane’s signature spunk kicked in. Finding a good home for the books – orphans of the church’s annual rummage sales – became her personal mission!
It took one trip to Goodwill, lugging six heavy boxes of books in tow, to convince Jane to find another solution. Since paying a nonprofit organization to haul the books away was not an option for their budget, she scrolled away online until she found her holy grail: Books for Ages.
The San Diego-based social enterprise is inspired by two founding principles: Every book deserves a second life, and every community deserves access to stories. On any given day, literature lovers can find the Books for Ages bookmobile rolling through farmers markets, schools, book fairs and community events across the county.
Books for Ages’ mission straddles literacy and environmental sustainability. No book is allowed to go to waste. Some titles are resold at affordable prices; others are donated to schools, families and libraries. Books that can’t be donated are recycled.
Thanks to the company’s extensive network of partners, free book pick-ups are available in communities across the United States. Accessing the service is simple: Just submit an online donation request form and upload a photo of your book trove. Books for Ages will take care of the rest!
“Finding Books for Ages was a godsend,” Jane marveled. “Partnering with them was a win-win for us. The books were donated to a great cause and now that they have a new home, we’ve made room in our new workspace for our meal delivery equipment and carts.”
La Jolla Meals on Wheels is always looking for kindhearted meal delivery volunteers. Reach out to gljmow@att.net to learn how you can support the nonprofit’s inspiring mission.
Molly Bowman-Styles
La Jolla Village News newsletter host
La Jolla story spotlight
Closing La Jolla Cove: Town Council, Coastal Commission weigh ‘What access looks like’
By Thomas Murphy • Times of San Diego
La Jolla Town Council held a meeting on the future of public access at La Jolla Cove. The meeting was attended by more than 140 people, at least one escorted out by police.
La Jolla Village News thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
More La Jolla news
La Jolla Village News thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.