SEEDS - Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support – hosted the 15th annual Book Share this past September at the Wayne County Fairgrounds and with over 43,000 books donated and over 28,000 rehomed! Over 1300 attendees came from all over Northeast PA as well as neighboring states of Rhode Island and Vermont to find reading material of all kinds!

Each year, we start with no books on the shelves, and individuals are asked to drop off books to find new homes. It is an incredible undertaking and one of the biggest recycling events in our region.

This year’s event was coordinated by Jessica Kjera who did an amazing job coordinating the event. Our volunteer coordinators Jean Kammer and Linda Lohner worked with an army of over 150 volunteers donating 813 hours of their personal time. Many of the volunteers return year after year. Some of these volunteers include SEEDS Board Members, but most of them are avid readers with a sincere love of books, and recycling.

The books that are donated are then sorted by topic for easy reference, such as arts and crafts, history, business, and a large assortment of non-fiction. The children’s book section is always a popular stop for families looking to expand their children’s library at no cost. At the end of the Book Share, the books not taken are either recycled or shipped to New Legacy Books in New Jersey. New Legacy is a company that resells books to raise funds for non-profits in their community.

Some of the comments from attendees:

The set up is amazing. I love the variety here. I can always find something for all my interests. Thank you for all that you do!

~ John

We appreciate the organization that goes into this. We find so much good material for our children.

~ April

We cannot do this event without monetary donations from our community and sponsors each year. Besides the generous donations from attendees at the event, SEEDS would like to thank our annual sponsors for 2026 which include WVIA, Buselli Solutions, Brookfield Renewable, Grimm Construction Inc., Turano Insurance, Nature’s Grace, Dirlam Brothers Lumber Company, The Dime Bank, RE/MAX Wayne, Woodloch, Citizens Savings Bank, and Platform Industries. The Book Share also received a generous donation from AllOne Charities to support the event. SEEDS extends its sincere appreciation to the dedicated volunteers, generous community sponsors, and the many book enthusiasts whose continued participation makes this annual event such a success. Their enthusiasm is unmistakable—whether rediscovering long forgotten titles, reconnecting with beloved childhood classics, or uncovering literary treasures they’ve long sought. The shared excitement and nostalgia among attendees capture the enduring spirit of community that defines the SEEDS Book Share.

The dates for 2027 are already set for September 18th and 19th at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. If you have a library of books or just a few to donate, start collecting now! If you would like to make a monetary donation to help support the Book Share or sign up to get updates on next year's event visit the SEEDS website at www.seedgroup.net/.