16/03/25
I’ve been poor at maintaining this blog alongside studying but I am getting back into the groove of it slowly. Rather than dwell on the bad, I have been focusing on the good.
I have been volunteering consistently since last summer in a second hand bookstore. I spend 4hours every week organizing, cleaning, facing, and selling books. For me it has been a fulfilling experience for me, as a regular weekly outing that leaves me feeling better after it. I’m able to help our local library through selling the books for funding, helping the older ladies who run it, and helping customers find books.
Through this, I have realized just how important books are in the community. I’ve been an avid reader for years, however, I never really thought about how essential books are. A majority of the patrons are the elderly in need of a story. Many retired and sometimes living alone, come and stock up on piles of books to keep them busy. For the younger generations, we keep ourselves busy thumbing away on our devices, while the older generation is more restricted to more physical means such as books and even puzzles if their eyes allow it. Men and woman alike file into the cramped cozy store with their coins to purchase a $0.25-0.50 book. I’ve helped countless store patrons scour the shelves for an author they loved, a book recommendation from a grandkid, or just listen to them explain their love for a series. The stacks of books people get through weekly showcase how essential books are for entertainment and wellbeing.
Through this experience I have been able to connect with so many in the community weekly and even build my book collection up. I have also helped collect duplicate books to build and deliver boxes to the local nursing homes to expand their personal libraries and prevent overstock from becoming trash. To help our local migrant school, I’m able to search through the shelves for diverse children’s books for the students and their teacher’s which I donate myself to help the store. While a small store that reels in not a lot of profit, it is such an important part of the community through offering affordable entertainment for the community, aiding the local library, and offering the elderly another third space to chat with others and nab some cool books.
This has been such a meaningful way for me to spend my gap year that has helped me since graduation and moving back home. I hope to volunteer up until I can continue school again and has been helping me practice reading physical fiction more often again. But I’m getting back into studying consistently which hopefully the reorganizing of my room can help. 😼
