What the world needs now is love, sweet love
—Hal David, “What the World Needs Now Is Love”
Real change will happen only when we fall in love with
our planet. Only love can show us how to live in harmony
with nature and with each other and save us from the
devastating effects of environmental destruction and
climate change.
—Thich Nhat Hanh, “Love Letter to the Earth”
February brings Valentine’s Day, a chance to celebrate love of all kinds. The items in this new collection, found in books donated to the Friends Bookstore, reflect affection and appreciation for friends, family, romantic partners and animals, as well as love for community, humankind, the Earth and all its inhabitants. There are many opportunities to express love through random acts of kindness, charitable donations and volunteerism, to name a few. Wildfires in California have brought devastating destruction and loss. Consider showing the victims some love by donating directly to trusted organizations such as The American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/about-us/news-and-events/press-releases/palisades-fire--red-cross-opens-emergency-shelter-.html) and World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org/news/first-alert-ca-fires-jan25). Studies show that having a compassionate and generous heart gives us a sense of purpose, feelings of joy and better health. So helping others is also a form of self-love!
February is also the month-long celebration of Black History Month and the theme for 2025 is African Americans and Labor. This year marks 100 years since the founding of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the first Black labor union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor. This key event in Black history laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement. E.D. Nixon, a Pullman porter who had helped organize the BSCP and led the Montgomery, Alabama branch, also played a crucial role in organizing the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott which was inspired by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a racially segregated public bus. Nixon enlisted the help of a young Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to help lead the boycott. The protest campaign lasted 382 days and led to a related case resulting in a U.S. Supreme Court decision that racial segregation on public transport is unconstitutional. Rosa Parks went on to work for U.S. Representative John Conyers, focusing on issues such as job discrimination. She was a lifelong civil rights activist, receiving many honors and awards. Part of our found items collection this month is a bookmark featuring the courageous Rosa Parks.
The Bookmark Project is an ongoing effort by Friends Bookstore volunteers to collect all items left in donated books. We are incredibly grateful to our book donors as they allow us to offer gently used books to the public at affordable prices, which in turn allows us to fund major library programs and projects. Please enjoy this collection of found items, and visit our bookstore, Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday. (For more information, call us at 561-544-8596 and press 9.)
To read about the origin of The Bookmark Project, click here: https://www.bocalibraryfriends.org/post/the-bookmark-project-by-stacy-reich