Posted by: Sarah Lynne Reul, Senior East Coast Director

Melanie Brooks, the Publications Coordinator at the UMaine Bookstore in Orono just wrote up this great article about the store's partnership with CASA (Central American Service Association), a student group dedicated to helping communities in Honduras:

 "The University Bookstore has been involved with Better World Books for two years, helping CASA raise over $3,600. Better World Books is a positive alternative to throwing away books that have little to no value at buyback.

Many bookstores across the country see Better World Books as competition, but not us. Better World Books sells books online that UMaine students can’t use – and a portion of that sale helps to benefit CASA.

“I love the fact that our bookstore at University of Maine has a great relationship with Better World Books. It is such a great organization. We all can benefit from it. Being part of the book drive helps CASA achieve our financial goals for Honduras. It’s just amazing what simple steps of recycling can mean to a community and the environment,” says Danijela Krsmanovic, UMaine sophomore and president of CASA.

The University of Maine bookstore spends a great deal of energy to partner with different organizations on campus that have an altruistic motive. Better World Books is just one example of how student organizations and the University Bookstore successfully work together to promote awareness and community relations. 

While the bookstore collects the books, it’s really CASA that does all the work. They come to collect the books in boxes we provide and ship them out on their own. For very little work on our end we get rid of unwanted books and help out a wonderful student organization at the same time. If only everything could be this easy!" 

Many thanks to Melanie Brooks, David Hazen, Bill Hockensmith, Marisa Schrock and all of the bookstore staff for their wonderful help & participation! Also, huge thanks to Danijela Krsmanovic (that’s her in the photo below!), Amber Gallant, Kathleen March, Emin Okutan and all of the CASA & Alpha Kappa Psi students who have helped spread the word, pack up books & make the book drive a great success! The books collected in their drive not only help CASA, but also make great positive impact on our Latin American literacy partner, Worldfund, helping them fund high-quality education for impoverished children.