Over the past few weeks, indie bookstores across the country worked to make sure their communities had food despite the government shutdown’s effect on SNAP benefits.
After initially withholding use of emergency funds to continue benefits, the Trump Administration has announced it will release half of the required funding, which could be delayed by weeks or months. With state and local responses to the funding shortfall differing, small businesses and community organizations nationwide have stepped up with mutual aid and charity efforts to donate food or fund food shelters. Bookstores have been among those organizations answering the call.
Below are just a handful of the stores across the country that are organizing food drives, collecting donations, or otherwise taking care of their communities during the government shutdown. You can click on each store's name to learn more about the work they're doing!
Has your store organized something similar to help your community during the shutdown? Email [email protected] and we'll add your store to this list!
Alaska
The Bookstore in Haines
Haines, AK
Arizona
Literally, A Bookshop
Gilbert, AZ
Throughout November, Literally, A Bookshop will be collecting food and monetary donations for United Food Bank.
Arkansas
Underbrush Books
Rogers, AR
WordsWorth Books
Little Rock, AR
California
Judging by the Cover
Fresno, CA
Judging by the Cover has partnered with Share Fresno to collect food for their community.
Moonstone & Mist
Redondo Beach, CA
San Bernardino, CA
Quiet Quail will be giving out food boxes every Friday in November.
Underdog Bookstore
Monrovia, CA
Word Horde Emporium
Petaluma, CA
Colorado
Off the Beaten Path
Steamboat Springs, CO
The Book Rack
Denver, CO
Connecticut
Rainy Day Paperback Exchange
Bethel, CT
River Bend Bookshop
Glastonbury & West Hartford, CT
Georgia
The Book Worm Bookstore
Powder Springs, GA
The Book Worm is collecting canned goods as well as personal care donations.
Charis Books & More
Decatur, GA
Illinois
Bobzbay Books
Bloomington, IL
Confluence Books
Carbondale, IL
Carbondale, IL. Do you have too many cookbooks? Do you need cookbooks? Either way, Confluence Books has you covered when they host the Cookbook Fundraiser for the Carbondale Food Pantry, to be held on Saturday, November 1, at the east end of the Carbondale Farmers Market. Rain date is November 8.
Harvey's Tales
Geneva, IL
This month, Harvey's Tales is raising money for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The store will match donations up to $500.
Our Town Books
Jacksonville, IL
Peoria Book Rack
Peoria, IL
Indiana
Fables Books
Goshen, IN
Ink Drinkers Anonymous
Muncie, IN
Novel HeARTs
Versailles, IN
Second Flight Books
Lafayette, IN
Second Flight Books spent Halloween collecting food and monetary donations for their local food pantries.
Wild Geese Bookshop
Franklin, IN
Iowa
Fort Dodge, IA
Marion, IA
Ackley, IA
Cedar Rapids, IA
Swamp Fox Bookstore
Marion, IA
Kansas
Left on Read
Wichita, KS
Left on Read was collaborating with another local business (The Blackprint ICT) to host a community spades tournament. There were tickets for teams and spectators, along with donor and sponsor opportunities. We received two significant sponsorships from local organizations (Kansas Health Foundation and Neurodivergent Consultants of Kansas).
Twisted Bookstore
Newton, KS
Twisted Bookstore is collecting donations for SafeHope, a local shelter.
Maine
The Booktenders
York, ME
Massachusetts
Brookline Booksmith
Brookline, MA
We hope you will join in Booksmith's yearly fundraising drive to support the Brookline Food Pantry, going on now through 12/7. During this crisis, food pantries all over the country are working harder than ever before to keep their communities fed. Please help in anyway you can, either at the register when checking out, or online at brooklinefoodpantry.org.
Harvard Bookstore
Cambridge, MA
Lovestruck Books
Cambridge, MA
Lovestruck Books held a fundraiser over the weekend, and donated all profits to Cambridge Community Food Pantry.
Rozzie Bound Co-Op
Roslindale, MA
Silver Unicorn Books
Acton, MA
Minnesota
Well Read Books
Elk River, MN
Missouri
Left Bank Books
St. Louis, MO
Left Bank Books will be holding a food drive until the shutdown ends.
Montana
Chapter One
Hamilton, MT
"Folks in our community have already donated hundreds of pounds of food as well as over $1000 in gift cards to local grocery stores. This allows families to choose what they want to eat."
Nebraska
Rooted Books & Gifts
Grand Island, NE
Sower Books
Lincoln, NE
New Hampshire
The Bookery
Manchester, NH
New Jersey
Kiss & Tale
Collingswood, NJ
New York
Battenkill Books
Cambridge, NY
Black Rock Books
Buffalo, NY
The Greenlight Bookstore
Brooklyn, NY
Tiny Raccoon Books
Sayville, NY
North Carolina
Bigfoot Books & Brews
Marion, NC
Sip on Stories
Matthews, NC
Sip on Stories has organized a Giving Tree, where customers can purchase a book, gift card, or other item to share with someone in need. Anyone in need can take an item from the Giving Tree, no questions asked.
Ohio
Bike Trail Books
Loveland, OH
Bike Trail Books has Kroger gift cards available for anyone who needs them. No questions asked.
The Bookery Cincy
Cincinnati, OH
Every Sunday during the shutdown, The Bookery will be donating that day's profits to Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank.
Flame & Fable Books
Lakewood, OH
Lake Erie Book Company
Geneva, OH
Loganberry Books
Shaker Heights, OH
Loganberry Books is collecting food and monetary donations, as well as directing customers to other local groups that are working to feed the community.
Prologue Bookshop
Columbus, OH
Prologue Bookshop donated $1 for every book sold last weekend to Mid Ohio Food Collective.
Oklahoma
Magic City Books
Tulsa, OK
Magic City Books is donating 10% of all sales to The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma November 1–27.
Oregon
BOLD Coffee and Books
Portland, OR
BOLD has partnered with Heretic Coffee and Lift UP to collect monetary and food donations.
Powell's Books
Portland, OR
Powell's Books partnered with Lift UP to place collection bins in several of their stores.
.png)
Pennsylvania
Blythe Books
Pittsburgh, PA
Boundless Books
Greenville, PA
The Head & the Hand
Philadelphia, PA
We're collecting non-perishable foods to donate to Lutheran Settlement House, a major non-profit right up the road from us that provides many different services, including food distribution.
The End Bookstore
Allentown, PA
Vintage Max
Bellevue, PA
Werner Books and Coffee
Erie, PA
South Carolina
Queer Haven Books
Columbia, SC
Texas
Aunt Eek's Books & Curiosities
Amarillo, TX
The Headless Librarian
Tyler, TX
Old Town Books
San Angelo, TX
Old Town Books is offering extra discounts in exchange for canned goods. All canned good will be brought to the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank.
Utah
Over a dozen Utah indies partnered to support their local food banks. Each participating store has pledged to donate 10% of all sales from the weekend! In some cases, it led to permanent partnerships with food banks.
1974 Bookstore
Salt Lake City, UT
1974 Bookstore is hosting a Utah Food Bank Drive!
The Book Box
Draper, UT
Bookdom Apothecary
Cedar City, UT
Folklore Bookshop
Midway, UT
The King's English Bookshop
Salt Lake City, UT
Lagg Bookstore
Lehi, UT
The Legendarium
Salt Lake City, UT
Lovebound Library
Salt Lake City, UT
Marissa's Bookshop
Salt Lake City, UT
Planted in Pages
Provo, UT
Poppy Books & Gifts
Spanish Fork, UT
The Pumpkin Cottage
Springville, UT
Under the Umbrella
Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont
Bear Pond Books
Montpelier, VT
Bear Pond Books held a food drive that benefitted the Just Basics Food Pantry in Montpelier.
Washington
Shelf Indulgence
Tacoma, WA