LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This Saturday, family-owned Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville is donating all of its in-store and online profits from sales to help two organizations in Eastern Kentucky affected by the devastating floods.
Carmichael’s Bookstore has all the normal sections you would expect when you walk in a bookstore: history, religion, fiction, non-fiction and more. However, it also features a “Kentucky” section of books.
“This one is fiction. That takes place in Troublesome Creek, which, unfortunately, has been very troublesome lately. So that one’s been on the news for sure. Some others are memoirs. We’ve got some poetry,” Sam Miller, manager of one of the three Carmichael’s Bookstores, said while pointing out books specifically from the Appalachian region.
Some of the authors of the books Miller pulled out have also been guests at events hosted by Carmichael’s Bookstore, such as Kentucky native and nationally bestselling author Silas House.
“He has primarily written about Appalachia. The new one is actually a little different because it is set in Ireland, but he has also written some children things, as well, but for middle grade and young adult readers,” Miller explained.
House recently posted on social media he would have never become a published writer if he hadn’t attended the Appalachian Writers Workshop at the Hindman Settlement School in Knott County.
Established in 1902, Hindman Settlement School’s website says it was the first rural social settlement school established in the U.S. Its writing programs are a big reason why Hindman is one of the organizations Carmichael’s Bookstore is donating all of its Aug. 6 profits to.
“We are particularly interested in the Hindman School because many of the authors from the area that we have loved and sold for so many years came up from that school. So when we were seeking how to help, we of course want to speak to books because that’s what we do,” Miller exclaimed.
The other organization Saturday’s profits will go to is the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky in Hazard, which gives grants to local people and programs working toward lasting, positive change in Appalachia.
“We wanted to specifically choose organizations that were organic and have been there awhile,” Miller said. “So we were looking for something that was already grounded and had roots in the community,” she added.
Miller said she was excited when the owners announced Saturday’s donation event because it’s another way to help out.
“I dropped off some cleaning supplies at a different donation drive before I came to work today. So I know there’s lots of people who have been doing small things, but this is a way a whole bunch of people can do the same small thing that can hopefully make a big impact,” Miller said.
This Saturday, Aug. 6, all three Carmichael’s Bookstores in Louisville open at 9 A.M. but if you can’t make it out to a store, all online sales profits are also being donated. Besides books, Carmichael’s Bookstores and online shop sells other items such as gift cards, puzzles and games.