On the surface, Books From Bobby’s mission has dramatically changed over the years: from sending books to children in Liberia to providing food and educational opportunities for residents of Stamps, Arkansas. But while its focus has expanded, the organization’s core goal of filling critical gaps in underserved communities remains the same. Stamps is a rural city with extreme poverty and high levels of illiteracy, while a housing shortage means the city’s predominantly African-American residents are left with little choice but to live in mobile homes that are vulnerable to tornados and storms. Books From Bobby is primarily addressing the community’s immediate needs, whether by distributing food, helping residents access funding for housing repairs, or organizing out-of-school programs to support young people’s STREAM education. The organization sees tackling illiteracy and hunger as the first crucial steps toward building an informed and engaged community in Stamps.
Books From Bobby encouraged residents to attend a meeting about the Stamps and Lewisville Watershed Program, which would mitigate the impacts of flooding in the region. Photo: Books From Bobby
With three board members and five dedicated volunteers, the nonprofit has turned a vacant building into a pantry that serves more than 100 families and 40 seniors. Next, it aims to launch a greenhouse and garden to supply fresh food to the community, which has gone without a grocery store for 30 years, and start a farmers’ market to further cement food access and support local businesses. Other plans include creating a community hub offering business support, training, and digital literacy programs. The hub will also host its student-led news channel, an upcoming initiative where young people will learn transferable skills, provide local information, and keep the community’s history alive. Additionally, seeing low civic engagement as an entrenched issue, Books From Bobby is educating the community about the voting process. ‘We see change happening slowly, but it’s hard to have a conversation about voting if you’re hungry, or your roof is leaking,’ says co-founder Stacie Mitchell-Gweah.
Books From Bobby at a community STEM workshop and robotics program for youth at Jesse Franklin Taylor Early Childhood Center on September 3, 2015. Photo: Books From Bobby