In just over 10 days, One More Page Books in Arlington, Va., raised more than $36,000, thanks to an incredible surge of community support, ARLnow reported.
Earlier this month, store owner Eileen McGervey launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $35,000. That money, McGervey explained, was needed to ensure the bookstore's future in the face of rising rent and business costs, as well as a number of recent, unexpected expenditures including repairing both the plumbing and air conditioning and replacing half of the store's ceiling lights.
In just over three days, the campaign raised more than half of its goal, and within another week the campaign surpassed its initial goal. As of Thursday morning, the total stands at over $36,800 raised from more than 400 donors.
"We are overwhelmed with the response and the words of encouragement from our customers and the community," McGervey told ARLNow. "It is difficult to ask for help, and then to have such a rapid response is humbling."
McGervey noted that while most of the money will be going to things that are not "fun and exciting," any remaining funds might go toward "a few fun ideas for the store design."
This is not the first time the bookstore has turned to its community for help: in August 2019, One More Page Books launched a silent auction to help fend off a 30% increase in real estate taxes on its building. The auction ran from August 2 to August 18 and brought in more than $20,000, or about 101% of the bookstore's goal. The auction took place both online and in-store, with incentive items including a 12-month bakery subscription, original artwork by illustrator Richard Thompson, a manuscript consultation with novelist Alma Katsu, and much more.