About Us
In 2005, Success Won’t Wait moved to its present location in Wilmington, Delaware.
Founded in 2002, Success Won’t Wait, Inc. is a not for profit literacy program based in Wilmington, Delaware. The organization’s mission is to encourage reading, particularly by children, and services Delaware and the surrounding states.
How do we operate?
Success Won’t Wait volunteers organize used book drives, calling on ordinary citizens to donate used books for redistribution in the community. To date, dozens of book drives have been held throughout the Mid-Atlantic at many different types of locations. Both private and public schools — from pre-schools to the University of Delaware – have become involved. In addition, businesses, retail locations, churches, and civic associations have also agreed to become book drop locations for donations, or have themselves become large book donors. But the greatest outpouring is consistently shown by countless individuals, who have scoured their garages, basements, and bookcases for unused books in support of the program and its mission. Success Won’t Wait has collected close to 400,000 books, with approximately 20,000 of those currently awaiting distribution.
Volunteer Matt McNeill prepares book packs for Toys for Tots, fall 2011.
After books have been collected, they must be cleaned and inspected for damage. Pencil marks are erased, minor rips repaired, previous owner’s names are blacked out, and spines are strengthened. Books are then sorted according to category and age appeal. Finally, a Success Won’t Wait, Inc. sticker is placed on the inside and outside cover. This identifies the organization as well as provides information to any reader who might be interested in donating or volunteering.
Where are we located?
Success Won’t Wait’s offices and warehouse facility are located at 1729 Marsh Road in North Wilmington. This office is staffed part-time and offers donors a permanent drop location as well as increased visibility in the community.
1729 Marsh Road, Wilmington, DE 19810
302-388-9669
Success Won’t Wait’s Programs
Since its inception, the group has expanded its original mission and developed three major project areas:
Co-founders Susan Conforte McNeill and Vincenza Carrieri at the annual Duel on the Delaware Book Drive, 2007.
Children’s Book Baskets. To date, Success Won’t Wait, Inc. has provided over 200 children’s book baskets to locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These baskets are filled with 30-50 children’s books and are carefully chosen to include something for everyone, from ABC’s, to easy readers, to joke books for pre-teens. They are placed, at no cost, in waiting rooms and lobbies where children frequently have to wait. Examples of placement locations include Kids Kuts, American Dance Academy, and Winner Ford of Newark.
Creating “Independent Libraries.” Each library contains over 1,000 books that are specially chosen tot reflect the needs of the population. Libraries are created in both temporary residential and day-only settings. Examples of libraries that have already been developed include: The Bayard House, a temporary residential facility for pregnant teens; Telegraph Road Learning Center, an alternative learning facility for teens with special needs; and Delaware Adolescent Program, a special high school for young parents and girls aged 12-19 who are pregnant; Exceptional Care, a hospice in Newark for chronically ill and dying children; and PAL Center in New Castle, a refuge for inner city youth.
Supporting the Friends of the Hockessin Library with a book donation, 2005.
Special Projects. Large book donations, frequently in excess of 1,000 books each, are culled from our collection for various organizations and groups. Examples include our U.S. troops stationed overseas (through the Operation AC program), Gander Hill and Baylor Women’s Prisons, Delaware Foster Grandparents Program, and Kent County’s P.E.A.K. Program.
Trackbacks
- Success Won’t Wait’s Epic Book Drive is concluded. Over 8,000 books collected for New Orleans! « Success Won't Wait!
- Success Won’t Wait’s Naked Book Program for summer 2011 gets off to a great start! « Success Won't Wait!
- Boys and Girls Club of Claymont, Delaware gives back to Success Won’t Wait with book donation « Success Won't Wait!
- Mark your calendars! Annual Duel on the Delaware and Miracle of Reading Education Book Drive scheduled for October 22! « Success Won't Wait!
- Literacy organization Success Won’t Wait celebrates 9th anniversary! « Success Won't Wait!
- August community service dates for kids! « Success Won't Wait!
- Camden County Library System receives 500+ book donation for Summer Reading Program « Success Won't Wait!
- Success Won’t Wait literacy volunteer Christine McNeill is featured on KidsareHeroes.org! « Success Won't Wait!
- All Saints School receives 250 children’s books for K-8 students « Success Won't Wait!
- Success Won’t Wait literacy volunteer Matt McNeill named 2011 Youth in Philanthropy Award Winner « Success Won't Wait!
- Success Won’t Wait donates over 400 books to the Friends of the Hockessin Library « Success Won't Wait!
- Success Won’t Wait donates 150 children’s books to Montclair PAL’s new literacy program « Success Won't Wait!
- October community service dates for kids! « Success Won't Wait!
- Success Won’t Wait supports the Reins of Life mission with a donation of 100 children’s books « Success Won't Wait!
- University of Delaware Athletics Department to host Book Drive prior to football game on October 15; Benefits Success Won’t Wait « Success Won't Wait!
I am a guidance counselor at Elbert Palmer Elementary in Wilmington. I would love to partner with you to distribute some of your books to our students.
Thanks,
Kelly Green
690-4553
Hi Kelly, Thanks for contacting us. We’ve actually worked with Elbert Palmer in the past. For two summers we did a book giveaway for all of the kids at the school. We got a breakdown of numbers by grade and each child got to choose 3 books. It was very successful! What exactly did you have in mind? Susan McNeill
Success Won’t Wait
302-388-9669
Hello Susan, I hope I am doing this right, I am not completely sure i know how to read this. But I am looking for the next coming up dates for Success Won’t Wait. Hope to see you soon. Happy Reading
Thanks Margherita! We have lots of projects going on — anytime you want hours, just let me know. Hope all is well with you! Susan
I was wondering whether your program reaches into the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. I work in the Allentown School District and personally work with ESOL and under-resourced students. I would be interested to know more. Thanks!
Hello Eileen,
We would love to be able to help you. Unfortunately, we don’t have funds for shippings. If we were to put together a large donation (500, 1000, 2500 books) would you be able to get them? We are located in Wilmington, Delaware just minutes from I-95.
Susan
Very nice design and excellent written content , nothing at all else we need : D.
How will Sierra Leone will benfit from your books donation? Sierra Leone is country just from war,we reaally need this items for our schools here in Sierra Leone they lack this material.
Hello and thank you for your message. Although we would love to help you with book donation, we currently don’t ship outside the US (unless we’ve partnered with another organization). I suggest that you contact World Book. They are located in Washington, DC and have a program that sounds like a good fit for your needs. Best of luck!
I am the new director of a small library in Oaklyn,NJ. The library has been in jeopardy of closing but through the efforts of the community we have remained open. We have no budget for books and the ones we do have are pretty old. I’ve been removing those that are really old but do not have the money to get any more. I am a member library of the Camden County Library System in NJ. You recently donated books via Jen Druce to that system. We were wondering if you would be able to send any donations our way. Thank you.
Andrea Cline