August 8, 2022, 2:59pm
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC)—which helps bookstore owners and employees with unforeseen emergency financial needs—is this week urging people to donate money to help a number of flood-ravaged bookstores in St. Louis and eastern Kentucky.
Recent torrential rains in the region have had a devastating impact on independent bookstores like the Book House, the owners of which lost their home and car to a flash flood, and Left Bank Books, which was flooded by storm sewer water in July.
“We have taken a loss, though I can’t say yet how bad,” owner Kris Kleindienst wrote in an open letter to customers. “We’ve lost books, fixtures, carpet, supplies, and critical revenue. It will take a while to know how much.”
As an added incentive to potential donors, authors Kate DiCamillo, Ann Patchett, Will Schwalbe, and Garth Stein have promised to match gifts up to $15,000.
If you can spare it, please consider donating today.
[via Publishers Weekly]