In Largo, a husband and wife are on a mission to rescue thousands of discarded books each week, offering them affordably to their community.
The ‘Book Rescuers,’ a recently opened store in Largo, is the brainchild of George and Sarah Brooks. Their aim is to save books destined for landfills and resell them at reasonable prices. Four years ago, George Brooks stumbled upon this idea after meeting an Amazon seller overwhelmed by the books he couldn’t sell. George convinced the seller to let him have these books. With the support of his wife, Sarah, they began by hosting book sales in their driveway, featuring a diverse collection of 800 books.
Due to the overwhelming demand, their operation quickly expanded from driveway sales to a full-fledged retail store. Opened on Black Friday, the ‘Book Rescuers’ now operates out of a large warehouse, showcasing 100,000 items with another 130,000 in reserve. The store takes in over 10 tons of donated books each week from various sources, including Amazon sellers, thrift stores, estate sales, and even 42 different libraries.
The Brooks have made affordability their trademark, pricing the average book at just $2.14. Children’s books are available for only a dollar. ‘We want to keep children engaged in reading and furthering their knowledge,’ said Sarah Brooks, highlighting the importance of fostering a love for reading. The couple is also committed to supporting educators by offering a 50% discount to teachers purchasing books for their classrooms.
George Brooks revealed that establishing the ‘Book Rescuers’ was the most demanding yet rewarding endeavor of their lives. ‘Our mission is about more than just books,’ he noted. ‘It’s about the people who read them. Our customers surprise and inspire us every day.’
Plans for the store continue to evolve as the couple looks to improve the children’s section and add features such as a small café and music stage. In addition to books, the store offers CDs, vinyl records, DVDs, and even single pages from damaged books. Local authors and artists have also found a platform in the store.
Sarah and George remain deeply connected to their community, which has supported them from the beginning. As George Brooks stated, ‘We want to support the community that has supported us since our driveway.’
George and Sarah Brooks have transformed a simple driveway sale into a community hub, demonstrating that with dedication and a clear mission, what was once seen as waste can become a valuable community resource.
Source: Fox13news
