3307 NORTHBROOK ROAD
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
WEB SITE- TRUDYJOE.ORG
EMAIL- TRUDYJOEBOOKSWAP@AOL.COM
PHONE 410-484-4080
WE ARE A FEDERAL TAX EXEMPT 501(C)3 CHARITY- FEDERAL TAX NUMBER 65-1312738

About Us  

OUR PURPOSETO PROVIDE BALTIMORE CITY ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARIES WITH DONATED BOOKS.  SOME SCHOOLS HAVE NO LIBRARIES; SOME SCHOOLS HAVE NOT RECEIVED LIBRARY BOOKS FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS.  THE DONATED BOOKS GO MAINLY INTO CLASSROOMS, WHERE THEY WILL BE USED AS REWARDS- OR TAKEN HOME, WHERE THAT BOOK MAY BE THE ONLY BOOK IN THE HOUSE AND THAT CHILD THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN READ IT.

OUR METHODOLOGY  BOOKS FROM MORE AFFLUENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHERE PARENTS WILL DONATE BOOKS THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE NOW "READ PAST".  THE BOOKSWAP IS THE "GIVERS" FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEIR GENEROSITY AND THE RECIPIENTS FEEL GOOD ABOUT A GIFT THAT OPENS THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF FACT AND MAKE BELIEVE, THUS ENCOURAGING THEIR LOVE OF READING.

THE RECIPIENTS  STUDENTS WITH SINGLE PARENTS, STUDENTS LIVING WITH RELATIVES, WHO ARE NOT THEIR PARENTS, FOSTER STUDENTS AND HOMELESS STUDENTS.  STUDENTS WHO ARE CARE GIVERS FOR THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS.

THE SCHOOLS  INNER CITY.  SOME SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS.  SCHOOLS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS ARE USED TO BUY WINTER COATS AND IN THE SUMMER, OPERATE FOOD BANKS.  LESS THAN HALF OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE P.T.A.'S

THE TEACHERS  ARE AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF DEDICATED TEACHERS, WHO OPERATE IN A SOMETIMES "MAKE DO" WORKPLACE.  FULLY AWARE OF THE DISCREPANCIES THAT CAN EXIST IN THEIR SCHOOL, THEY OVERCOME, WITH SKILL AND SPIRIT.

THE HOMES  A MAJORITY ARE UNDER THE POVERTY LEVEL.  SOME SEVENTY PERCENT RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS.  HERE AGAIN, THEIR "MAKE DO" ATTITUDE CAN ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN DEGREES OF NORMALCY; THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD; BEING PREDICATED BY TELEVISION.

US  WE HAVE NO PAID OFFICERS OR STAFF.  WE DO NOT SOLICIT FUNDS.  TRUDY KAUFMAN IS VICE PRESIDENT AND JOE KAUFMAN IS PRESIDENT AND RESIDENT AGENT.