Hey, friends! Have ya had a good summer? Are you ready to get back into the swing of the school year? I know we all wish summer was just a few weeks longer but in our ‘hood, school’s back in session next week.
This back-to-school time has me thinking of all the kiddos and families and patients who start their school year out in treatment or in hospitalization for allllll different reasons.
Three years ago, I was just in my final weeks of never thinking I’d have cancer as my Oldest started first grade and the Middlest started pre-school. And you know what one of our favorite things to do as a family was and still is? Read. We love love love books around our house. And since the kiddos were bambinos, I’ve committed to them that whenever they ask for a book, they can get it. Because reading is one of the very best things for the mind and soul.
All of this combined — a new year, my upcoming September cancerdiagnosaversary and our love of reading had me pondering a Goodness project. And I need your help!
Let’s do a book drive, shall we?
Did you know that when you are in the hospital, there are little bookshelves all around (in most hospitals, in fact) that serve as tiny libraries for patients to borrow books while they are receiving treatment, in-patient, or even just in for an appointment. A book that can take that patient to a totally different world or reality. A book that can help kids smile and laugh. A book that someone could get lost in. And did you know that those bookshelves are totally filled with love? Okay. Not exactly love. But sorta. Because the books that fill the shelves are books that have been donated.
Yes. Donated!
I talked with my friends at Nebraska Medicine about the book donating process and found out it is easy peasy! They take ALL books. New. Used. Loved. Pored over. Never cracked. They take kids’ reads, adult reads, YA, humor, crime, drama, romance (I mean… don’t get too racy… let’s remember some people are in for heart conditions. And some people are kids.), Christian, fiction, non-fiction, the coloring kind (these should be unused). ANY KIND OF BOOK… whatever you love!
I have a big goal. BIG. HUGE (as Julia Roberts would say). I want US… all of us… to get books to help fill these library shelves. And if we get a ton, I’ll find other hospitals in the area to drop them at… because everyone loves books, friends. Everyone.
So here’s what I need from you. I know you guys are good at goodness.
Pick out your favorite book (or heck, send a box) and stick it in the mail. Take it off your bookshelf. Or your kiddos’. Buy it new. Or used at Half-Price Books. Get it from Amazon and pay zero shipping. Order it up from Barnes and Noble. And if you think of it, write a note in the front cover with your name and why you love the book or a small positive quote or thought that might make you smile if you were picking it off the shelf.
Spreading happy doesn’t have to be hard. Let’s spread some goodness, friends.
Oh. Oh. And please share this post so we can spread the word and make a little reading rainbow of goodness, cool? Cool.
I’ll deliver the books on or around September 18 to Nebraska Medicine… the day that I had my first big Multi-disciplinary appointment and official treatment plan at Nebraska Medicine 3 years ago. Spreading goodness at that time is my way of saying, “Not today, cancer!” You gifting goodness is my way of saying, “There is soooo much good!”
Here’s the info on where and how to deliver to make sure I get them:
Attn: Book drive goodness
c/o Baby on the Brehm
606 S 178th St
Omaha, NE 68118
…………………
Take a look in a book. Go out and be the good. You got this.
