SMART Reading taking donations for new Central Oregon book bank
Published 10:05 am Wednesday, August 13, 2025
SMART Reading is accepting donations of new and gently used children’s books for an upcoming Central Oregon book bank. The organization pairs students with volunteers in one-on-one mentoring sessions and provides books for participants each month.
All donated books will be sorted and cleaned by volunteers before being given away.
SMART Reading hosted a free book fair at Culver Elementary School this spring, thanks to book drives and community donations. Students took home over 1,000 refurbished books before summer break.
Donations are accepted at the SMART Reading office (1029 NW 14th St., Suite 101, Bend, ) Monday through Friday by appointment and through Aug. 31. Books are also accepted at Strictly Organic Coffee Co. and the Play Theory Cafe.
About Noemi Arellano-Summer
Noemi Arellano-Summer is schools, youth and families reporter at the Bulletin. She previously reported on homelessness and the 2020 eviction moratorium with the Howard Center of Investigative Journalism through Boston University. She was raised in Long Beach, California, where she started her journalism career reporting for her high school newspaper. In her free time, she can be found meandering through a bookstore or writing short stories.
She can be reached at noemi.arellano-summer@bendbulletin.com and 541-383-0325.
