Scholastic, Hachette, Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House are among the New York trade publishers responding to the humanitarian crisis in flood-ravaged Southeast Texas.
Driven by a company-wide response, Scholastic made a $25,000 donation to the Red Cross to aid relief efforts in the area. Scholastic is also accepting requests for help from damaged schools via its Possible Fund, an initiative that donates books to schools in underserved communities (as well as those in areas affected by natural disasters). Additionally, the company’s Scholastic Book Clubs is offering to help restock classroom libraries in areas harmed by floodwaters.
The Hachette Book Group has made a donation to the UJA Federation of New York that will provide basics ranging from food to medicine to shelter.
Simon & Schuster announced plans to provide assistance to Texas libraries and booksellers struggling in the wake of the storm. S&S is offering damaged Texas public libraries and school libraries a donation of 250 “best of” titles to help restock their collections. School and public libraries can request the donation by emailing S&S at education.library@simonandschuster.com.
For booksellers affected by the flooding, S&S is offering multiple copies of 20 new releases and bestsellers free of charge. Booksellers affected are urged to contact the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC) at help@bincfoundation.org.
In a release, S&S said the company “stands ready to work with national and local non-profits such as First Book and the Red Cross to provide books for children and adults displaced by Hurricane Harvey.”
Macmillan said the company will match personal donations of up to $100 each by its employees to the Red Cross to support the relief efforts.
A spokesperson for Penguin Random House said the company has announced an unlimited matching program and will match donations to Hurricane Harvey relief from all of its employees through September 15. A PRH spokesperson said “we are working with our partners to provide meaningful support where it’s needed most.”
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