Help Women & Children First Renovate Their Bookstore
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 14, 2014 9:45PM
Women & Children First Bookstore received a burst of creative energy and a new lease on life when Lynn Mooney and Sarah Hollenbeck bought the iconic Andersonville bookshop from founders Linda Bubon and Ann Christophersen this summer. But running a bookstore in the 21st century is still a labor of love, and the business plan Mooney and Hollenbeck put together includes a dramatic increase in programming to include themed lectures; live lit shows that explore gender, gender bias and how it has affected women, men and transgender; a wider range of children’s events such as baby sign language; improv classes; and events where notable authors read their favorite childhood books, in addition to author readings and the store’s current programming.
The other major facet of the business plan, as laid out to us by Hollenbeck in July, is a long-needed renovation of Women & Children First’s interior, slated for this winter. Hollenbeck said at the time, “If we’re going to expand the programming, we want to have a space that’s dedicated to hosting these events, we want to create a community space that is effortless to hold events very easily.”
To help fund the renovations, Women & Children First on Tuesday launched an Indiegogo campaign called “Women & Children & You,” with a goal of raising $35,000 toward covering the renovation costs.
The varying donation levels are some of the more accessible ones we’ve seen in quite some time from local crowdfunding campaigns. They’re paired with rewards that are in line with the donation levels. Looking for a signed copy of Megan Stielstra’s Once I Was Cool? It’s yours with a $50 donation. A $100 donation can get you a one-year membership to Women & Children First or a signed copy of President Jimmy Carter’s A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power.
The donation level we’re most enthused about is the $250 lifetime membership to Women & Children First. That’s 10 percent off all merchandise—except gift cards—for life, with no need for renewal. If you have $1,000 lying around, your name can wind up on a mural for the store being designed by Women & Children First bookseller and artist in residence, Jull Kuanfung.
Take a look at the various reward levels and consider donating to the “Women & Children & You” campaign here.