CoMoGives peer-to-peer fundraiser benefits Unbound Book Festival, Little Free Libraries

The first week of CoMoGives is near its end.

The annual fundraising campaign for regional nonprofits was slightly less than $50,000 away from hitting $500,000 in donations so far as of about noon Friday.

While people can provide at least $10 directly to the nonprofits of their choosing through an organization's donation page, there also are a variety of peer-to-peer fundraisers underway this month as well.

More: CoMoGives aims to raise $2 million for regional nonprofits in its 10th year

Among the various fundraisers is one from Lauren Miers, who hopes to raise $1,000 for the Unbound Book Festival. There are 15 fundraisers coinciding with Unbound's main goal to raise $30,000, which has raised slightly more than $5,500 as of Friday.

For every $50 raised through Miers' fundraising page, she will purchase one book to be placed in a Little Free Library. This is similar to a fundraiser by Unbound board treasurer Nikolas Wood, who aims to raise $400, while also providing books for Little Free Libraries.

"I was trying to think of something that would affect both of the communities I live in and were literary related. I wanted to do more than a matching grant because this is the first year I am doing a peer-to-peer fundraiser," Miers said. "I wanted to make it a kind of fun deal, where if you give you get something additional."

More:Unbound Book Festival names Ross Gay, Patrick Rosal 2023 keynotes

Miers recently joined the Unbound board and, while based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, she returns to Columbia often. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has written previously for the Tribune.

"In the fall of 2020 (Unbound) sent out an email to turn some of their recorded talks in 2019 into a podcast. That was in my skill set and so I got connected to the outreach team that way. I then ended up helping produce about half of the livestream events in 2021. I continue to serve on the outreach team," Miers said.

Her fundraiser, much like Wood's, will put 20 new books in Little Free Libraries. Wood's book donations all will be in Columbia, he noted on his donation page, while Miers said she may split hers between Columbia and Tulsa.

"I love Columbia. We had such a strong community when we lived there and I still have several favorite spots I regularly hit up. Columbia will always have a special place in my heart," she said. "... Whatever I buy, I do intend to buy either from Skylark (Bookshop) or we have local, independent stores here (in Tulsa). The money spent on the books is going to benefit the literary landscape both in Tulsa and Columbia."

Other fundraisers for Unbound include donation matching, editing services, graphic design services or providing candy and baked goods.

The Columbia-based church organization for which Miers works remotely provides grants to cover the registration fee of Little Free Libraries, she said.

"I got a lot of exposure to (Little Free Libraries) that way. I am a big fan and supporter of the library, in general in any community and the role it plays. I love the idea behind Little Free Libraries," Miers said, adding she wants to add to the variety of books available. "When folks give, I might be able to give more popular titles and some titles that have diverse representation in them."

More: Skylark Bookshop's Alex George named Midwest Bookseller of the Year

Unbound cultivates the literary landscape in Columbia, Miers said. It first was started by Alex George, co-owner of Skylark Bookshop, in 2015.

"Unbound really focuses on bringing writers, authors, poets to Columbia to have an exchanges of ideas; to hear about their process. It really takes the experience of reading and loving a book to a whole new level," Miers said.

While festival keynote speakers were named this week, other plans still are being finalized, she said.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: CoMoGives peer fundraiser provides benefit to Unbound Book Festival