To help bookstores, comic stores, and their employees who have been affected by Hurricane Helene, Macmillan Publishers will match all gifts made to Binc up to $10,000, regardless of size. As of yesterday, Binc had already received 15 calls for help from book and comic people in the path of destruction--more than 500 miles across six states. An estimated 200 bookstores and comic shops and thousands of store employees have been impacted.
"We are already hearing from book and comic people who are traumatized, unable to find friends and family, and without water and electricity," said Binc executive director Pam French, "and we know there will be more stores in need of disaster relief as the waters recede, the cleanup begins, and cell phone signals return. We are grateful for our friends at Macmillan for their willingness to partner with us in support of bookstores and comic shops."
The foundation receives requests every day from bookstore and comic store employees and owners experiencing unforeseen emergency financial, medical, and mental health hardships, and has helped stores around the country recover after natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Donations can be made here.
Kudos to Binc and Macmillan!