What? Continuing a long tradition, in 2017 we donated over 3000 books to our sister elementary schools of New Hampshire Estates (pre-K through 2nd) and Oak View (3rd through 5th). Adding our contribution to their own efforts, the New Hampshire Estates and Oak View PTA ended up selling and giving away over 3200 books either free or at take-them-home, family-friendly prices while still raising $950!
Why? Our Wood Acres community has steadfastly supported our sister elementary schools with the Thanksgiving Drive, the Holiday gift drive and - our personal favorite - this Wood Acres Annual Used Book Drive! To add to the joy of giving, this year we will again be accepting ALL books and media in order to help parents and students in DC as well.
How? DONATE ALL BOOKS and MEDIA (it’s not just children's books this year)! Yes to all books, CDs, and DVDs (but still no to used activity books, magazines, periodic journals, or VHS tapes).
Children’s Books:
As is our tradition, all children’s books will be categorized, packed up and delivered to the waiting hands of Erin Taylor, volunteer Treasurer and book sale organizer of the NHE/OV PTA on Friday, April 13th. That Saturday, the NHE/OV PTA will do more sorting and categorizing in preparation for our sister schools' book sale, which will be held April 16th – April 20th. The students at our sister schools will get the opportunity to get free books, as well as to buy books of their own at nominal prices!
All other Books and Media:
All other books will head, without sorting, to Turning the Page (TTP), a local education nonprofit dedicated to engaging parents of D.C. public school students to become more active and effective participants in their children’s education. TTP collects and then sells to the public gently used books, CDs, and DVDs to raise funds for its programs. TTP sorts and then resells donated items to the public. Most donated items are sold at TTP’s own used bookstore, Carpe Librum, in downtown D.C., while some items may be sold online. All proceeds go directly to Turning the Page (no middle man!) and help support its family engagement programs in partner schools.
At Wood Acres: Tuesday 4/10 through Friday 4/13
You or your children can bring them in. Box(es) will be set up in the main entrance.
Residential Drop-Off: Monday, April 1st through Friday, April 13th
Many times you have so many books to donate (good!) that sending them via children to Wood Acres is hard. If so, feel free to drop them by Doran Flowers’ house at 5024 Wissioming Road. Drop-and-go in driveway allowed (preferably on a dry day in boxes and bags).
What else?
Volunteer! Help manage the morning collection at school from 8:45 to 9:45 on the collection days of Tuesday to Friday (4/10-4/13) at Wood Acres. Get the kids hyped up for donations and make sure the pile of books doesn’t get too unruly! If you or a child would like to join in the big volunteer sorting, that will take place April 14th at either New Hampshire Estates or Oak View.
For all questions, feel free to email Doran Flowers at or call at 202-427-7010.