BOOK BRIGADE:
Creating a Community of Readers
Be part of the story. Make a gift today!
Upcoming Events
Book Brigade 2024
Visit the full calendar to see all volunteer opportunities.
After three successful pilot Book Brigade walks fall 2024, the Book Brigade is back to delivery free books to the community in creative and effective ways.
2024 Book Walks are being organized in Hammond, Gary and East Chicago
Book Brigade is partnering with schools and community partners to bring books to students and their families.
Bring the Book Brigade to your street! We provide the free books, you provide the volunteers. For more info contact hello@bbb4e.org or call 219-932-3232.
November is Family Literacy Month!
Book Brigade Ambassadors
5:30-6:30 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10, Merge Building
More Ways to get involved with Book Brigade
Donate Your Books
Currently, we are only accepting children’s and young adult books. For the safety of our staff, books can be donated at seasonal volunteer days and by appointment. Contacts us at 219.932.3232 or at hello@bbb4e.org
Purchase Books
Our community is looking for specific books and we keep our list up to date with what we are missing. Shop our Amazon Smile Wishlist and have new children’s books sent directly to our offices.
Donate
Sometimes, we get requests for specific books from someone. With theses funds, we purchase the book and have it sent to them. We also purchase any materials we might need for repairing donated books.
Recent Events
Tuesday, Nov. 12 Book Brigade Ambassador Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 8 Book Brigade Ambassador Meeting
Aug-Oct - Fall 2024 Book Brigade Walks
Tuesday, Aug. 13 Book Brigade Ambassadors Meeting
Tuesday, July 23 Book Brigade Ambassadors Meeting
Saturday, June 22 - Book Brigade Volunteer Day
Tuesday, June 18 - Brigade Ambassador Meeting
Tuesday, May 21 - Book Brigade Ambassador Meeting
Press
Books, Brushes & Bands for Education marks 24 Years, Sue Ellen Ross, Post Tribune, Oct. 19, 2024
Book, Brushes & Bands for Education Celebrates 24 Years, Martinez-De La Cruz NWI Times, Sept. 14, 2024
Davich: The words children read become the words they write: 'It's crucial for their success' Jerry Davich NWI TIMES, March 4, 2024
McDermott Reads to 2nd Graders at Kenwood, Martinez-De La Cruz NWI TIMES, Feb. 29, 2024
Hammond nonprofit delivering books to residents' doorsteps, Adrian Martinez-De La Cruz NWI TIMES, Sept. 28, 2023
Blog Posts
Wednesday March 12, Hammond Central
Saturday March 2, Hammond Public Library
Feb. 26 - March 2, School City of Hammond
Fall 2023 Book Brigade Sept-Oct 2023
Delivering free books to the community since 2013.
Book Brigade: A Call to Action began with placing a red wagon in the lobby of every First Midwest Bank lobby in Northwest Indiana. For one month customers and employees donated new and gently loved children's books in these 17 wagons. At the end of the collection drive, BBB4E volunteers and staff gathered all the books and sorted them by age. In addition, all of them were screened for content and quality.
The final selections were distributed by volunteers and students walking door-to-door with the same wagons through Hammond neighborhoods. At each address, children and their parents were invited down to the sidewalks to choose from the wagons of books. In the first year, over 3000 books were collected and distributed.
Book Brigade volunteers consist of current and past BBB4E students and their families, community volunteers, board members, and staff.
Through the program, the student body has developed its own leadership program. As the delivery progresses both during the evening and by the end of the summer, we see a change in students as they talk with the residents receiving books. They do an outstanding job with courtesy while developing leadership, communication, and salesmanship skills. This community interaction contributes to a hands-on learning experience forming successful futures.
In 2014, the collection of books began to include an abundance of donated adult books. This increase led to more wagons being added to each distribution walk and a greater variety to be offered to homes without children.
Books collections were put on hold as hundreds of books began to be donated annually by the community directly to our office. People from across Northwest Indiana have now contributed to the Book Brigade collection and distribution. Schools, churches, and private residents have benefitted from the generosity of the hundreds of people that have contributed books and financial support.
Since its inception, over 25,000 books have been donated to the program. Local teachers from all over Northwest Indiana and Illinois are invited to come to our office and select books for their classrooms.
COVID-19 halted our Book Brigade door-to-door distribution for the safety of all involved. Since March 2020, the program has shifted its delivery system of free books. Books are now available at more community events and thousands are given away at our annual summer concerts.
We welcome anyone to come and choose free books. To make an appointment, please contact us at hello@bbb4e.org or at 219.932.3232.
Here’s What People Are Saying About Book Brigade!
““This is an amazing project. It’s one thing to be in an organization that promotes the arts, but to give back is amazing.””
- Jennifer
“I’m surprised that there [are] still good in [Hammond] and there is a project to help kids off the street.”
- Kenny
“This is a very good program for children, it is truly an encouragement and inspiration for children to read.”
- Diane C.
“This is a great project. I appreciate it.”
- Stephanie