Community Corner

Non-Profit Gives Books & Supplies to Soldiers

George Scott, co-owner of Peerless Book Store in Johns Creek, ensures that soldiers have something to read.

George Scott has spent a lot of time and money shipping thousands of care packages containing books and personal supplies to soldiers, and with the help of his community, he's not stopping anytime soon.

The co-owner of in Johns Creek created the non-profit Books for Heroes in 2009, but his mission to get books to soldiers in Afghanistan and in veterans' hospitals dates back to 2003.

The Peachtree Corners resident was working in a Waldenbooks in 2003 when a man came in and bought $96 worth of magazines and asked for a box. "My buddy's in Iraq with nothing to read," the young man told Scott.

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"It never hit me that this was a situation," Scott said. "I thought, 'We've got to do something about this.'"

So Scott began soliciting donations himself, with a lot of money going toward postage and his house filling up with books and paperwork. "I stopped the project because it broke me," he said, in 2007.

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And then, a young man he knew was heading to serve in Iraq, and Scott couldn't be idle. He decided to start Books for Heroes, this time as a non-profit.

Scott estimates that he's shipped some 20,000 books since 2004. And he doesn't just send books. Items such as baby wipes, Gold Bond powder, comfort food and disposable razors go into packages, as well. As do Bibles – Mount Pisgah Christian Church donated 350 brand new Bibles to ship to the soldiers.

Postage isn't cheap, either, as it takes $13 to $15 to send a package.

For now Scott is able to store books in an empty space in the shopping center his book store is located in as long as that space doesn't get leased out.Β 

The space contains books donated from the community as well as new books from publishers and authors.

"This area has been so supportive in helping make sure our soldiers have some comforts from home," Scott said.

Books for Heroes was recently instrumental in helping author James Patterson ship 200,000 books to troops, donating its space for storing more than 60,000 of them.

"We have soldiers serving our country that don't have something to read," Scott said. "It's a necessity. When I'm stressed out I need a book. These soldiers deserve everything we can give them."

For more information on Books for Heroes and how you can help, visit www.booksforheroes.org and the organization's Facebook page.


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