Back in 2009, Mayana Lifchitz and her father, Yosef, started βBooks 4 Causeβ after seeing textbooks get thrown away after one year of use. Theyβve since collected thousands of books that have been donated to 110 libraries in Africa. But they decided to work closer to home after the pandemic hit the U.S.
The father of five and his daughter started a free library in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, filling it with 1,000 books. Anyone can come and take any books they want, all at no charge. Books 4 Cause hopes to open more free libraries on the South and West sides of Chicago and help to fill empty storefronts left vacant after the pandemic.
βWhat reading does is provide education,β Yosef explains. βThat education lengthens lives.β And Mayana adds, βYou can really turn someoneβs life around just by giving them a free book.β
Source:NBC Chicago