7th Annual Community Book Drive
The 6th Annual Community Book Drive is coordinated by Hagerstown Area Religious Council, United Way of Washington County, Hagerstown Rotary Club, the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC), and FedEx Ground. Collected books will be sorted during the United Way’s annual Day of Caring on September 20th and distributed to at-risk children in Washington County to enhance our efforts to improve literacy rates. Last year more than 14,000 children’s books were collected and distributed to 30+ community organizations and schools to get them into the hands of at-risk children. More than 50 businesses, organizations, and houses of faith participated in the collection. Let’s do it again!
Everyone can collect books! Work with your churches, civic groups, businesses, and other organizations to collect age appropriate books, specifically geared to children ages birth through elementary school.
Donated books can be new or gently used, but must be appropriate for ages birth-11. Any books in this age group are eagerly accepted, but if you’re purchasing, here is a list of Recommended Books.
Posters/flyers for collection sites and distribution:
Book Drive Drop Off (for collection box)
Book Drive Collection Sites (updated regularly with new additions)
If your group would like to collect books for the book drive, please contact Terri Gwizdala at ecacwashcomd@gmail.com or Kathy Powderly at kathy.harc@gmail.com or 301-842-4272. Visit the Early Childhood Advisory Council website for more information about early childhood education and literacy in Washington County.
Books will be collected at the following participating locations:
*This list will be regularly updated as sites are confirmed/added. Please note that locations without addresses and hours are not open for public drop-offs.
A to Z Insurance Services, LLC
10226 Governor Lane Blvd., Suite 4007, Williamsport. M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Th 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Antietam Tree & Turf
405 North Burhans Blvd, Hagerstown
BB&T
Hagerstown Main, 1800 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Smithsburg, 22940 Jefferson Boulevard, Smithsburg 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Salem Avenue, 1326 Salem Avenue, Hagerstown 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fountainhead Plaza, 13232 Fountainhead Plaza, Hagerstown 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Halfway, 17601 Virginia Ave, Hagerstown 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Paramount, 13418 Marsh Pike, Hagerstown 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Frederick Street, 940 Frederick Street, Hagerstown 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Boonsboro, 231 North Main Street, Boonsboro 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hancock, 131 West Main Street, Hancock 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Boonsboro Middle School
Bridge of Life Church
14 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown. M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Christ’s Reformed Church
130 West Franklin Street, Hagerstown. M-F 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Church of the Holy Trinity
City Hall, Hagerstown
1 East Franklin Street, Hagerstown, MD. M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
City of Hagerstown Community and Economic Development
Clear Spring Middle School
Concordia Lutheran Church
17906 Garden Lane, Hagerstown. M & W 9 a.m. - noon, Sun 8 a.m. - noon
Congregation B’Nai Abraham
53 East Baltimore Street, Hagerstown. M, W, F 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Desert Rose Cafe
42 North Conococheague Street, Williamsport. M-Sat 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Doing Better Business (formerly WPS)
14500 Byers Road, Hagerstown. M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
First Christian Church
1345 Potomac Avenue, Hagerstown. M,W,Th 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tu 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., F 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
First United Bank
130 South Edgewood Drive, Hagerstown. M-Th 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - noon
1646 Wesel Boulevard, Hagerstown. M-Th 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - noon
100 S Main St, Smithsburg. M-Th 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - noon
209 Main St, Myersville. M-Th 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - noon
Goodwill Industries
Growing Tree Preschool
Hagerstown Church of the Brethren
15 South Mulberry Street, Hagerstown.
M-F 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Use Mulberry Street entrance.
Hagerstown Police Department
50 N Burhans Blvd, Hagerstown. Lobby M-F 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Hagerstown Rotary Club
Fountainhead Country Club. Wednesdays noon – 1 p.m.
Hagerstown Sunrise Rotary Club
Academy Theater. Fridays 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Hamilton Nissan
1929 Dual Highway, Hagerstown. M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Haven Lutheran Church
1035 Haven Road, Hagerstown. M-F 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Herald-Mail Media
100 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown. M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Hospice of Washington County
Hospice office: 747 Northern Parkway, Hagerstown. M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Boonsboro Community Life Center: 28 North Main Street, Boonsboro. M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Hagerstown Community Life Center: 20 West Washington Street, 2nd floor, Hagerstown. M-F 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Hancock Community Life Center: 126 North High Street, 2nd Floor, Hancock. M-F 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
John Wesley United Methodist Church
129 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown. M, T, Th, F 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Kaplan University
18618 Crestwood Drive, Hagerstown in the Library. M-Th 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., F 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Mulberry Lofts
22 N Mulberry Street, Hagerstown
Noland Company
1350 Wesel Blvd., Hagerstown. M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
North Hagerstown High School Key Club
Otterbein United Methodist Church
108 East Franklin Street, Hagerstown. M-F 8 a.m. - noon, Sundays 7 a.m. - noon
Patriot Federal Credit Union
North Point Branch, 18721 Longmeadow Road. M-Th 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., F 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - noon
Potomac Case Management
Register of Wills for Washington County
Circuit Court building, 24 Summit Avenue, Room 213, Hagerstown. M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Salem United Methodist Church
The Salvation Army
Smithsburg Elementary School
Smithsburg Middle School
St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church
101 South Prospect Street, Hagerstown. M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
St. John’s Lutheran Church
141 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown. Office open M-Th 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
601 West Washington Avenue, Hagerstown. M & F 9 a.m. - noon, T-Th 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tri State Civitan
Books can be dropped off during the quarter auction Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Funkstown American Legion - Doors open at 12:30 p.m. - Auction starts at 1 p.m.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boonsboro
64 South Main Street, Boonsboro.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown
13245 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown. Sun noon-1 p.m.
United Way of Washington County
33 West Franklin Street, Suite 203, Hagerstown. M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH)
32 West Washington Street, Hagerstown. AFTER LABOR DAY: M-Th 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., F 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Washington County Arts Council
34-36 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown. Tues-Fri 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Washington County Health Department
Washington County Retired Educational Personnel Association (WCREPA)
Accepting books at Noland Company, 1350 Wesel Blvd, Hagerstown. M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Washington Square United Methodist Church
Western Maryland Hospital Center
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown.
Zion Reformed Church
201 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown. Sun-Fri 9 a.m. - noon
Books will be picked up from all locations between September 12-19 by FedEx Ground volunteer drivers and will be sorted and counted on the United Way Day of Caring, Thursday, September 20. Collected books will be distributed throughout the community where most needed for early childhood literacy programs for at-risk children.
