In a city as large and diverse as New York, access to books is not always equal. Brooklyn Book Bodega is working to change that by making sure more children and families have books in their homes.
Founded in 2018 by Rebecca Cohen and Seema Aghera, the organization started as a small all volunteer effort. Today, it has grown into a team of about ten members supported by thousands of volunteers each year. Their goal is simple but powerful, to increase access to books and help kids build a love for reading.
Cohen, a former teacher, was inspired by her students. She saw that when kids were able to choose books they actually liked, they became more excited about reading. That idea became the foundation for Brooklyn Book Bodega.
“I saw from my students that they became excited about reading when they had the opportunity to choose books that they wanted to read,” Cohen told Brooklyn Paper.
The team also recognized that while some neighborhoods have easy access to books, others are “book deserts” with very limited options. Their work focuses on closing that gap.
The organization focuses on three main areas: book access, educational programs, and service opportunities. One of their biggest efforts is getting books directly into the hands of kids and families. Through their book request program, teachers, community leaders, and organizations can ask for books based on the needs of the children they serve. The team then curates and prepares these books so they are ready to be shared.
They also host large community events known as Big Book Parties, where families can come and pick out books for free. These events take place in spaces where people already gather, like markets and public areas, making books easy and fun to access. Brooklyn Book Bodega is expected to host around 100 of these events in a year, continuing to expand their reach across the city.
Behind the scenes, volunteers play a huge role. People from all walks of life come in to help sort, organize, and prepare books. Together, they go through donations, pack books into boxes, and get them ready for distribution. The organization is always looking for high quality, giftable books that families will be excited to take home and keep.
One team member, Cecilia Golombek, shows how volunteering can grow into something more. She started as a volunteer in 2020 while transitioning into freelance work and looking for ways to give back. After volunteering regularly, she was invited to join the team part time and eventually became full time. Now, as the Book Hub Manager, she oversees the flow of books coming in and going out, as well as the volunteers who help make it all happen.
“I started volunteering once a week, and over time it grew into something bigger,” Golombek said. “Now I oversee all the books coming into our space and all the books leaving to reach new readers.”
Partnerships are also key to their success. Brooklyn Book Bodega works with schools, community groups, and even healthcare providers to distribute books in places where kids already are. In 2025 alone, they partnered with nearly 450 different organizations, showing how wide their impact has become.
Looking ahead to 2026, the organization plans to give out 250,000 books and reach 50,000 New Yorkers. They also aim to engage over 2,500 volunteers through weekly and weekend opportunities, as well as regular community days where families can take as many books as they can carry.
What started as a shared idea has grown into something much bigger.
“We’re part of this movement that’s saying books and reading and literacy is important,” Cohen said, adding that Brooklyn Book Bodega isn’t just giving out books — they’re building stronger communities, creating opportunities for learning, and showing that something so simple can make a lasting difference.
