Bookmobile News

We are deeply grateful to the Bethlehem Foundation for their expanded support toward our 2018 program year! Bethlehem is our primary backer for the important services we provide to local senior citizens and will help us reach more than 3,500 elders over the next 12 months. Much of this outreach will happen right at these individuals’ doorsteps, at low-income apartment complexes and senior living facilities. This means that mobility challenges will not be a barrier and these eager readers will be able to count on regular appearances by their favorite free rolling library. The Free Bookmobile helps folks stay connected to their culture, their community, and their grandchildren — we encourage seniors to take extra books to read to all the little ones in their lives.

Bethlehem Foundation’s creation is a unique and inspiring story: Formed on September 16, 2013, it was funded with proceeds from the sale of 801 Tupper Street, a 159-unit apartment building located in Santa Rosa, California. The building was known as the Bethlehem Towers, a high-rise apartment community serving low- to very low-income seniors. Bethlehem Towers opened its doors in 1972 and was managed by a volunteer Board of Directors for 40 years. When the 40-year HUD loan that financed the community was paid off, the Board was approached by Reiner Communities, a firm that acquires and manages multifamily affordable housing properties, which agreed to complete an extensive renovation and extend the affordability of the project for an additional 55 years. The Board of Directors of Bethlehem Towers, Inc. saw this as a win-win situation. The housing for low-income seniors could remain in place, and proceeds from the sale could fund this new foundation dedicated to promoting an enhanced quality of life for senior adults residing in Sonoma County, California.

The Free Bookmobile is very proud to be a part of those enhancement efforts. Thank you!