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A free library and reading room for the Union vacant lot: help our neighbors in Rockford
A community-led a free library and reading room at the Union vacant lot that will serve 134 neighbors.
🇺🇸 United States3,530 views
For twelve years the neighborhood has asked for a free library and reading room. This year a group of 21 volunteers, including two retired carpenters, decided to stop waiting. The council has given permission for the Union vacant lot, but no funding.
We have received donated soil and plants, and the remaining cost is $4,000.
It will serve about 134 people, including young people who have nowhere safe to play. We'll hold a build day in November 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 $4,000 goes:
• Tools hire and delivery: $210
• Safety equipment and signage: $330
• Materials: $3,460
Even a small gift gets used right away and I'll thank you myself.
- Kai
Updates from Kai
Thank you all. We're at 41% now ($1,629). I'm honestly stunned. the first invoice got paid this week.
- Laxmi Durga Bista 🇳🇵 · $5
“Stay strong. Thought of Kai all day after reading this. - Lalitpur”
- Teresita N. Cruz 🇵🇭 · $38.50
- Hauwa Ronke Nnamdi 🇳🇬 · $30
- Claudia W. Escobar 🇦🇷 · $10
“Hope it all works out. Thought of Kai all day after reading this. - Buenos Aires”
- Nuria J. Montes 🇺🇸 · $100
- Rina Dian Permana 🇮🇩 · $10
- Sipho F Buthelezi 🇿🇦 · $25
“Hope it all works out. Thought of Kai all day after reading this. - Soweto”
- Ting Cheng 🇺🇸 · $14.50
- Lorena H. Valdez 🇺🇸 · $10
- Anonymous 🇧🇩 · $50
- Sadie B. Pena 🇨🇦 · $200
- Swati M. Sharma 🇮🇳 · $25
- Ziad Majid Maalouf 🇪🇬 · $25
- Nandini K. Naidu 🇮🇳 · $46
“Hope things get better. Only $46 but hope it helps. - Varanasi”
- Ramon S. Flores 🇵🇭 · $10
“Thinking of you. Thought of Kai all day after reading this. - Calamba”
- Aiden Jenkins 🇺🇸 · $30
- Gonzalo F. Salazar 🇺🇸 · $25
- Anong Yaowalak Chanthara 🇹🇭 · $50
“Get well soon. Thought of Kai all day after reading this. - Phuket”
- Tatiane Martins 🇧🇷 · $15
- Masud Sumon Siddique 🇧🇩 · $100
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Praying for you. Great idea, hope you get there. My neighbor had a similar thing happen so this one hit home.
Thinking of you and your family, Kai. More neighborhoods should do this. Love from Adama.
Best of luck. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Sent it to 32 people at work. All the best.
Sending love, Kai. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. God bless
Wishing you the best. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Greetings from San Francisco