Book Drive

Alson Jewelers has been busy posting lots of events on Facebook. But their recent book drive effort caught my eye.Josh Bass, a local high school student, asked the folks at Alson Jewelers if he could use their parking lot for a weekend book drive. The standalone store is located on a busy street in suburban Cleveland, making it an ideal drop off point for such a charitable campaign.

Josh’s parents Dale and Susan are good friends of David Schreibman, one of these Schreibman siblings who now manage the family business that got its start in 1931. The book drive was scheduled on September 26, which just happened to be a cold, rainy Saturday in Cleveland.

Inclement weather didn’t dampen Josh’s ambitions to bring in at least 2,000 to 3,000 books for the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. Like most jewelers, Schreibman wanted to be part of a unique community outreach effort that also helped a friend’s son achieve a personal goal of doing something for a local, notable not-for-profit hospital. (U.S. News & World Report ranks Cleveland Clinic as one of America’s top hospitals.)

As the rain-soaked day progressed, Schreibman was surprised at the number of people who showed up to donate books. “Hundreds of cars pulled up in the parking lot,” says Schreibman. “At the end of the drive Josh collected about 10,000 books. Obviously the drive went very well. Josh was overwhelmed. He rented a U-Haul truck to bring the books to a processing center, where the books will be reviewed for content and cleaned up.”

Schreibman helped Josh get the word out. That same weekend Alson Jewelers also held an estate jewelry event. “We sent out direct mailers and advertised in the local daily and community papers promoting the two events in a single ad,” says Schreibman. “In the ads people were notified that if they brought in books we’d give them a $50 gift card.”

Since the book drive, about four to five people have redeemed their gift card. “It’s only been a few weeks since the event,” says Schreibman. “They expire at the end of the year, so I’m sure many people will use them when they come in for holiday shopping.”