Clean-up day did more than just clear out clutter on campus.
Faculty members and division offices donated more than 850 used textbooks. Forty-eight cartons were collected and packaged by the Vol State Bookstore staff and sent
to a group called Better World Books. They are a for-profit social venture
company that supports literacy causes around the world. Social venture
companies operate under a for-profit business model in which success is
measured by the positive impact a company makes in addressing a specific social
issue. In the case of Better World Books, that issue is literacy. The donated books
are re-sold, primarily overseas, and funds are used to drive those programs.
Since many of the books are faculty editions those sales are closely monitored. The funds collected from sales of the donated Follett books (They are the
company that runs the Vol State Bookstore) are donated to The Thirst Project. The Thirst Project, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to
bringing clean drinking water to communities around the globe.
Faculty members can always donate used textbooks to Better World
Books. There is a collection box in the Bookstore in Gallatin year-round.