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A free library and reading room: a volunteer-led effort in Oakland

Volunteers in Oakland are raising $3,850 for a free library and reading room at the Baobab vacant lot.

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Mercy M. Rodriguez
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Oakland
For ten years the neighborhood has asked for a free library and reading room. This year a group of 8 volunteers, including a group of teenagers, decided to stop waiting. The council has given permission for the Baobab vacant lot, but no funding. We have received donated paint, and the remaining cost is $3,850. It will serve about 87 people, including children, seniors and people with disabilities. We'll hold a build day in September and everyone is invited. We're a small team, and every dollar will be spent in the open - I'll post receipts and progress photos. All purchases will be made by two volunteers and logged publicly. Surplus funds will go to maintenance. Where the $3,850 goes: • Materials: $3,000 • Permits and inspections: $190 • Safety equipment and signage: $350 • Tools hire and delivery: $310 If you can't give, please share this page. It does reach people.
#community#volunteer-led#neighborhood

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  • Daniel W. Foster 🇺🇸 · $10

    “Thought of Mercy all day after reading this. - San Jose”

  • Stefan Jäger 🇩🇪 · $50

    “Happy to help. Been where you're, it gets better. - Braunschweig”

  • Babar Faisal Sheikh 🇵🇰 · $200

    “Happy to help. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Faisalabad”

  • Rima Duha Trabelsi 🇸🇦 · $15
  • Marilyn M. Peterson 🇬🇧 · $100
  • Halima Fatima Aliyu 🇳🇬 · $10

    “Take care of yourselves. My cousin told me about this one. - Asaba”

  • Jose C. Reyes 🇵🇭 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $10

    “You got this. Been where you're, it gets better. - Lucknow”

  • Geeta H. Bajwa 🇮🇳 · $25
  • Nida Hina Kazmi 🇵🇰 · $5

    “Hope this helps. Hope the September deadline works out. - Rawalpindi”

  • Uyên Diệp Thai 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Fatuma Akinyi Githinji 🇰🇪 · $50

    “Thought of Mercy all day after reading this. - Kasarani”

  • Ife Obiageli Odukoya 🇳🇬 · $50
  • Karanja Omondi Barasa 🇹🇿 · $25
  • Santiago T. Ibarra 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Pieter Postma 🇳🇱 · $30
  • Miles Richards 🇺🇸 · $20

    “God bless. Thought of Mercy all day after reading this. - San Francisco”

  • Angela C. Jordan 🇬🇧 · $50
  • Delilah F. Zimmerman 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $5

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  • Tammy J. Soto

    Thinking of you and your family, Mercy. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. I hope September is when things finally get easier. Love from Faisalabad.

    • Andreea Toma

      Keep going. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Greetings from Lyon

      • Lavinia Carmen Constantin

        Hope it all works out, Mercy. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Thinking of Oakland

        • Daria Yulia Nikolaev

          Hang in there. Shared this with my family. Sent it to 28 people at work. Greetings from Aurangabad

          • Latha D. RamanPhoto verified

            sending strength, Mercy. More neighborhoods should do this. I'm in customer support myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Take care.

            • Dominique Laurent

              Take care. I hope things turn around soon. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it. Love from Porto Alegre.

              $2,336.50 raised of $3,850

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