Forever Books Launches Crowdfunding Campaign To Stay Alive

foreverbooks

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to try to save Forever Books in downtown St. Joseph. Store owner Robin Allen tells WSJM News the business is struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 shutdown with less in sales and all of the normal events being canceled.

“Of course, the bills are still coming in to pay vendors and rent and utilities,” Allen said. “It’s been quite a jarring experience for other businesses and Forever Books.”

Allen took to Facebook this week to announce a donation drive seeking $80,000 to keep Forever Books alive. She says the response has been overwhelming.

“I’ll put books out on our entryway for orders, and people will just be walking by and hand me a 20, or a check. A woman handed me a check for $100, and her 90-year-old mother handed me a check for $1,000. Those kinds of things have really kept me going.”

The crowdfunding campaign had raised more than $20,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. Forever Books has been a downtown St. Joe staple for 21 years. You can find the campaign to save it right here.