Turn Books into Blessings: The Power and Purpose of Reselling Books for Good
In a world filled with financial uncertainty and growing need, one simple truth remains: people want to help. But giving back doesn’t always require opening your wallet. Sometimes, it starts with something as humble—and powerful—as a gently used book.
That’s the mission behind Books for Blessings, a division of Outreach25, led by Christina Hendrix, who brings years of experience in organizing, selling and fulfilling books. She has a knack to know what is going to sell and is an expert in determining the true value of books in our inventory.
Why do we offer this unique fundraising service?
According to Statista.com , the average American adult spent $116 on books in 2022. Multiply that by the 262 million adults in the U.S., and you get a $30 billion-dollar annual book economy. Yet, many of these books end up collecting dust on shelves or boxes in garages.
Books for Blessings taps into this underutilized resource by collecting gently used books, reselling them online—primarily through Amazon—and using the proceeds to help families in critical need. From medical emergencies to disability support, the program provides tangible relief funded entirely by book donations.
A Simple Concept with a Profound Impact
Books for Blessings began in 2016 as a private family operated charitable effort as a way to give back and serve others. When we formalized Books for Blessings into the Outreach25 non-profit, the domain and services rolled under the organization.
Here’s how it works
- Donors send in books in like-new condition. We will even pick them up locally.
- Outreach25 lists and sells the books via Amazon and other platforms.
- Books donated to a beneficiary are sold and 100% of proceeds are paid out every other week via their requested payment method.
- Books donated to the organization are sold and the funds are placed into our general fund
- Partner nonprofits and churches can participate, earning 50% of the proceeds from books they collect.
- It’s efficient, transparent, and scalable. And most importantly, it empowers everyday people to turn unused resources into real-world impact.
The Infrastructure is Ready—Now We Need You
Books for Blessings has the back-end system in place: donor tracking, tax-deductible gift letters, and beneficiary management. The next phase is growth. That means:
- Opening an Amazon seller account for Outreach25
- Securing warehouse space for inventory
- Scaling up volunteer teams for sorting and shipping
- Launching regional and national donation drives
We’re building a sustainable, community-driven engine—one book at a time. And your support, whether through donations, partnerships, or volunteering, can help us bring it to life.
Why Reselling Books is a Game-Changer
In today’s world, we know that times are tough. People want to give but they may not always have cash to donate. However, the average person owns far more books than they realize. Whether from a college bookshelf, children’s books outgrown, or gifts that were never read, these items quite a bit of potential. We are able to collect books and provided a tax letter for the donor based on the current fair market value of their donations. There is also zero waste. Books which are donated that do not fit into our strict evaluation system are accumulated and then auctioned off to used book stores. Donors also deserve transparency. Book donors can opt in to see how much their donated books actually raised in the sale process. If your organization wants to have a book drive, we can track donations however you want, if you want to have a little friendly competition. In other words if a Church wants to have a book drive, we can track sales by congregant, team, or Sunday school class.
Be Part of the Movement
The journey ahead is filled with opportunity, but we can’t do it alone. We need:
- Individuals willing to donate books
- Churches, schools, and businesses to host book drives
- Nonprofits interested in partnering with us
- Volunteers to help sort, list, and ship inventory
- Warehouse space providers and shipping partners
- Financial supporters to help scale operations
Together, we can build something remarkable and use books that people don’t want to bless others in need.
Final Word: Never Judge a Book By Its Cover
We believe that every book—just like every person—has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life. A story that once inspired one reader can now change the course of a struggling family’s life by providing financial assistance. So go ahead—clean your shelves, pack your boxes, and give your books a second life with purpose. Because when you donate a book, you’re giving so much more.