Bellingham Books to Prisoners, a pretty self-explanatory name for the nonprofit, but take a look behind the scenes and the mission goes much deeper. What it means? It is the power to provide someone with a simple item, a book, that can make a powerful and positive difference in that person’s life.

Check out the video below for an idea of what the organization provides:

Dave Huss and his wife Nancy voluntarily manage the organization out of a small downtown Bellingham building. And what motivates this couple to give so much energy to mailing books to prisoners nationally?

For dave “it’s the books.” He loves books, and he wants to be able to share that love with people who may not have access to literature. We all remember the old man in Shawshank Redemption who manages the library, but Dave adamantly claims that most prisons and jails do not provide access to books. Some of the prisoners want to start businesses when they get out, so they want business books. Some want to study up on their hobbies of reading history, science and fiction. Some are looking for self-help books to help them emerge from the loneliness of prison as a better person.

For Nancy, it’s the community building. There are so many different types of people who go to their book packaging parties every Monday, and it provides an avenue for these people to talk. And, Nancy states “that kind of community building is really powerful.” She likes participating in this simple but empowering mission because she gets to “read the letter and actually do something about it.”

The organization welcomes anyone to join their trainings for their bookpackaging parties every Monday and the first Sunday of the Month. They are also in need of monetary donations for postage. If you are interested in running a fundraiser for their cause, contact them as well.

Check out their website for more information.