Brenda Calandrillo and New Jersey Unit 57 have always been involved in the Paramus New Jersey Veterans Home through bingo and donating to the home’s welfare fund for barbecues and other activities. 

But soon, they turned their focus to a new project in the home — the library. Unit 57 knew it needed to help the veterans who are served by this library, which had books stacked on the floor because it was running out of space. 
After getting approval from the veterans home, unit members got to work.

“We cleaned it out in one day — many books were 50 years old, water stained, no book jackets,” Calandrillo said. “Many appeared to be cleanout books from people’s houses and not useful for veterans in the home — cookbooks, backpacking in Utah. We left the newest ones we could.” 

To help refill the library, the unit mailed about 90 letters to American Legion posts and units, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks, and other organizations all over the county that also usually do fundraisers or activities at the veterans home. 

“It was really a nice thing, and everyone saw the value of it,” Calandrillo said. 

After, the unit reached out to Barnes & Noble to participate in their institutional purchase agreement which gave them 35% off the purchase price of the books. Then, they started raising money.
 
“It was slow in the beginning with about $1,200,” Calandrillo recalled. “Then I got a call from the veterans home of the biggest donation they had ever seen. American Legion Post 117 in Bogota was shutting down because they didn’t have many members. That $20,000 donation for the library put us over the top. They became our benefactor.” 

As of press time, the unit has raised $26,000 for the library.  

To get the project going, members worked with Barnes & Noble on a $10,000 purchase order. 

“It took the sales rep a month to select the books,” she said. “We got 504 books. We wanted to see how many books it would fill — the library is full now. The veterans home is undergoing a renovation. I keep saying to enlarge the library so we can get more books.” 

Working with Barnes & Noble was an easy process for the unit. Books shipped directly to the veterans home, and the unit received a call when they were in. 

The difficult part of the project was unpacking all of the boxes in one day and then alphabetizing the books on shelves. Members could all be heard reciting the ABCs to ensure books were in the right order with nonfiction, fiction, and audiobooks.

In addition to the books, there are now three new computers in the room on wheelchair-height floating desks, making it a true library/media room. 

“The residents love it,” Calandrillo said. “We have a traffic jam of wheelchairs in the library. The wheelchairs can pull right up under the desks.” 

The entire process from the idea to donate the books to the re-opening ceremony for the library was about five months. 

This project was truly rewarding for the unit and the community, Calandrillo said. 

“It was really a good feeling for everyone to see something that you are doing bring a lot of joy to the veterans,” she said. “It’s a lasting project.” 

The unit still has about $15,000 for the library project, so if the space expands, they will be able to add more book titles. 
 
 
How to update the library in your local veterans home: 
Get the recreation department at the veterans home on board. You can also get a letter of approval with them to share with potential donors that confirms/verifies your project is legitimate and needed. 
• Mail letters to potential donors explaining the project.
• Get on Barnes & Noble’s institutional purchasing plan to secure books at a discount, and use your unit’s tax-exempt status for the project. 
• Have a team of volunteers clean out and restock the library.
• Host a rededication  of the space.