Founded by Ella Brandt in November 2025, Miami Book Bridge collects gently used books from homes, schools, and libraries and gets them into the hands of the kids, teens, and families who need them, across Miami and beyond.
17,000+books collected & distributedSince November 2025
20partner organizations & sitesDonors, drive hosts, and places books went
800books shipped to The BahamasAbout 1,000 more planned for October; books for children in Africa in December
4mini-librariesWilliams, Gibson & Morningside Parks, and the TACOLCY Center
Nov 2025founded by Ella BrandtA student at The Cushman School
Updated October 2026
Video, 1:54 · Ella Brandt with photos and video from our drives and deliveries (watch at https://miamibookbridge.com/#founder; full transcript on this page)
Founder’s note
A note from our founder, Ella Brandt
1:54 videoCaptionsTranscript below
“I’m proud of the 17,000 books we’ve collected and distributed, but I’m thinking of the child we haven’t reached yet and what I can do to get a book into their hands.”Ella Brandt, Founder, Miami Book Bridge
It started with one conversation about a child in our community who was struggling to read without the books he needed. Since November 2025, that conversation has become a network of people who collect, sort, carry, and donate books, from Liberty City to Eleuthera.
About the founder
Ella Brandt, 16, is a student at The Cushman School. She founded Miami Book Bridge in November 2025 and runs it day to day: she contacts partners, organizes book drives, sorts books by age and need, coordinates deliveries, and restocks shelves.
Read the transcript
17,000 books, 10 months. That’s how many books Miami Book Bridge has collected and distributed since I founded it. But the number that stays with me is one: the child who needs a book and doesn’t have one.
It started when my mom became aware of a person in our community whose child was struggling to read because he didn’t have the literacy resources he needed. I could not stop thinking about that conversation. I had grown up surrounded by books and I realized that wasn’t true for every child. So I founded Miami Book Bridge to get books from people who have them to communities who need them.
I contact partners, organize drives, sort books for different ages and needs, and coordinate deliveries and restocks. Each step takes work, but it means a donated book can actually reach someone who wants to read it.
One of our largest projects was at the Belafonte Tacolcy Center, where we delivered and organized 2,400 books. Seeing the shelves at the library filled with books was incredible. But what mattered most was imagining a young person walking in, finding a book that interests them, and knowing they could take it home to keep forever.
We started with local community centers, but now Miami Book Bridge has grown beyond South Florida. We’ve sent books to Exceptional Education Outreach, a literacy program in the Bahamas, and we’re preparing to send another thousand books to them in October. The distance is greater, but the goal is the same: to get books into the hands of children who need them.
One conversation started this. Ten months later, it has become a network of people willing to sort, collect, carry, and donate books. I’m proud of the 17,000 books we’ve collected and distributed, but I’m thinking of the child we haven’t reached yet and what I can do to get a book into their hands. Thank you.
How it works
From a donated book to a reader’s hands.
Collect
Community book drives with our red collection boxes, porch pickups, and donations from libraries, schools, and families.
Sort
Every book is sorted by age and need, from picture books to young adult titles, so each one fits the place it’s going.
Deliver
To partner sites like shelters, youth centers, and community libraries, to our mini-libraries, and internationally to The Bahamas.
Restock
We coordinate restocks to keep shelves full. Books are free to take home and keep, so when shelves empty, we know it’s working.
Community impact
Since November 2025: 17,000+ books, and a whole community behind them.
We count each book once, when it reaches a reader or partner shelf. Below are highlights from our posted deliveries and collections.
17,000+books collected and distributedSince we started in November 2025, and still growing.
4mini-librariesWilliams Park, Gibson Park, Morningside Park, and the TACOLCY Center welcome area
4full libraries stocked or reorganizedCamillus House, Miami Bridge Youth Services, Legion Park, and the Belafonte TACOLCY Center
800children’s books shipped to The BahamasFor EEO in Eleuthera; a second shipment of about 1,000 books is planned for October 2026
3community book drives, a 4th starting Oct 17Boat Parade, Miami Shores Community Center, and Scott Rakow Youth Center
20partner organizations & sitesBook donors, drive hosts, and the places books went
1feature in 2 local magazines“Books Without Borders” (July 2026), plus a talk at SAMx
Updated October 2026
Delivery highlights
Delivery highlights: date, recipient, and number of books
Date
Recipient
Books
early Nov 2025
Camillus House Delivered and sorted in our first weeks
1,500
Jan 23, 2026
Camillus House library (2nd delivery)
700+
Feb 23, 2026
A new library in a Miami community center
58 + a bookshelf
Mar 14, 2026
Williams Park mini-library
150+
Mar 22, 2026
Gibson Park mini-library, Overtown
150+
May 10, 2026
Morningside Park mini-library
150
May 23, 2026
Miami Bridge Youth Services
300
Jun 10, 2026
Kristi House
350
Jun 14, 2026
EEO, Eleuthera, The Bahamas Landed Jun 25, 2026
800
Sep 4, 2026
Legion Park Community Center
500
Sep 5, 2026
Bookleggers Library
1,000
Sep 13, 2026
Belafonte TACOLCY Center (library + 4th mini-library)
2,400+
Collection highlights
Collection highlights: date, source, and number of books
Scott Rakow Youth Center summer drive (includes the 500-book pickup of Jul 19)
700
Aug 23, 2026
The Cushman School
1,100
Ella Brandt with our Gibson Park mini-library in Overtown, March 2026.
About · Our story
One simple idea, a whole city of readers.
Miami Book Bridge was founded by Ella Brandt with one simple idea: collect gently used books from homes, schools, and libraries across Miami and get them into the hands of people who need them.
Our mission is access: bringing stories directly to youth and families who might not otherwise have the opportunity or means to get them. Books in our mini-libraries are free to take home and keep. No check-outs, no returns.
“Every book that you no longer need can become someone’s escape, comfort, or new beginning.”Ella Brandt, Founder, November 2025
What started with porch pickups and a big red collection box has grown into a youth-led, community-wide effort, with libraries, schools, families, and local nonprofits all helping keep the books moving.
The Bahamas & beyond
A book collected in Miami. A reader empowered in The Bahamas.
In June 2026, Miami Book Bridge took on its first international literacy project: shipping 800 children’s books to Exceptional Education Outreach (EEO) in Eleuthera, The Bahamas. A second shipment of about 1,000 books is planned for October 2026.
800children’s books shipped to Eleuthera, June 2026
~1,000more books planned for a second shipment, October 2026
For more than 26 years, EEO has partnered with public schools on Eleuthera and Harbour Island to create inclusive programs where children with learning differences get literacy support, individualized instruction, and the tools they need to become successful learners. The books we collected are going to strengthen the libraries in EEO’s resource rooms.
“Ella is helping bring new reading opportunities to children across Eleuthera.”Exceptional Education Outreach, Jun 11, 2026
Fully stocked from the Miami Shores drive, we announce summer projects with Kristi House and EEO Bahamas.
EEO announces its partnership with Miami Book Bridge.
800 children’s books are packed and shipped across the water to Eleuthera.
All 800 books land at EEO, and the summer-school kids unbox the delivery themselves.
Upper Eastside Living’s “Books Without Borders” feature covers the project.
EEO celebrates “hundreds of books making their way to young readers across our islands.”
A second shipment of about 1,000 books to EEO is planned.
Book drive with One SMILE at a TIME, a student-led club at The Cushman School that partners with Special Olympics Florida.
National Geographic Kids readers head to children in Africa (destination partner to be announced).
800 books packed for Eleuthera · Jun 2026The books arrive at EEOShipping to Eleuthera · Photo courtesy EEO BahamasSummer-school kids unbox the books · Jun 2026
🌍
Next: books for children in Africa
We’re working with One SMILE at a TIME, a student-led club at The Cushman School that partners with Special Olympics Florida, to send National Geographic Kids readers to children in Africa (destination partner to be announced) in December.
Highlights since November 2025: book drives, pickups, deliveries, and new shelves.
2025
Miami Book Bridge launches
Ella Brandt introduces “one simple idea”: collect gently used books from homes, schools, and libraries and get them to people who need them. Two weeks earlier, 1,500 books were delivered and sorted at Camillus House.
First book donors
In our first two weeks of posting, Brockway Memorial Library (500+), Island Angels (150+ books and 6 games), and Aventura Branch Library (130+ Spanish-language and children’s books) donate.
First community book drive
A big red box at the Holiday of Miracles Boat Parade in Miami Shores. That week, The Children’s Trust donates 200 books.
2026
700+ books for the Camillus House library
A volunteer team unloads, carries, and sets up a second Camillus House delivery.
Mini-library #1: Williams Park
A bookshelf and 150+ children’s books for the after-school program and summer camp.
Mini-library #2: Gibson Park, Overtown
150+ children’s books, free to take home, set up the same week the donations came in.
Presenting at SAMx
Ella presents Miami Book Bridge to the SAMx audience.
Mini-library #3: Morningside Park
150 books where after-school programs and summer camps meet.
Miami Shores Community Center drive: 700 books
Our second community drive wraps. Days earlier, 300 young adult books went to Miami Bridge Youth Services.
Six-month recap
3 mini-libraries, 2 community book drives, and 200+ people reached through presentations.
800 books land in The Bahamas
Our first international project: 800 children’s books for EEO in Eleuthera. Earlier that month, 350 books went to Kristi House.
In print
“Books Without Borders” by Sunja Leon runs in the July issues of Upper Eastside Living and Miami Shores Living.
Biggest pickup yet: 1,700 books
From Island Angels and the Key Biscayne community, then 950 more with The Cushman School library the next day.
Summer drive wraps: 1,800 books
700 at the Scott Rakow Youth Center plus 1,100 from The Cushman School.
Fall setups: Legion Park & Bookleggers
500 books for Legion Park’s after-school library (Sep 4) and 1,000 books for Bookleggers Library, a free bookstore.
Biggest installation ever: 2,400+ books
A new library at the Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Liberty City, plus mini-library #4.
Next: a fall drive with One SMILE at a TIME
Oct 17 – Dec 12 at the Miami Shores Community Center. In December, we’ll send National Geographic Kids readers to children in Africa (destination partner to be announced).
Next: a second shipment to The Bahamas
A second shipment of about 1,000 books to EEO in Eleuthera is planned for October 2026.
Where we’ve placed books
From Liberty City to The Bahamas.
We partner with community centers, nonprofits, parks, and libraries to stock shelves, install mini-libraries, and get books straight into readers’ hands.
Liberty City
Belafonte TACOLCY Center
2,400+ books
A brand-new library for kids, teens, and adults, plus our 4th official mini-library in the welcome area, packed with children’s books.
Sep 13, 2026
Miami
Camillus House
2,200+ books
Two deliveries (1,500, then 700+) to the Camillus House library, one of our earliest and most important partners.
Nov 2025 · Jan 23, 2026
Bakehouse Art Complex
Bookleggers Library
1,000 books
Restocking the shelves and mobile outposts of Bookleggers, which calls itself Miami’s first and only free bookstore.
Sep 5, 2026
Upper Eastside
Legion Park Community Center
500 books
A fully stocked library for the after-school program. Students can take their favorite stories home to keep.
Sep 4, 2026
Miami
Kristi House
350 books
Books for kids and teens to keep, made possible by The Cushman School’s Human Rights Club, which connected us with Kristi House.
Jun 10, 2026
Miami
Miami Bridge Youth Services
300 books
Young adult books from The Cushman School library, and an afternoon spent reorganizing their library around a new-arrivals shelf.
May 23, 2026
Parks
Mini-libraries at Williams, Gibson & Morningside Parks
150+ books each
Free book stations where after-school programs and summer camps meet. Take a book, keep it forever. When the shelves start to empty, we know it’s working.
Mar 14, Mar 22 & May 10, 2026
The Bahamas 🇧🇸
EEO, Eleuthera
800 books
Children’s books for EEO’s resource-room libraries, supporting students with learning differences.
Jun 14, 2026
Partners
It takes a community to build a bridge.
Thank you to the libraries, schools, nonprofits, and neighbors who donate books, host our red boxes, and welcome new shelves. Plus all the families, friends, and donors who drop off a bag of books.
📚 Book donors
Brockway Memorial LibraryMiami Shores · 500+ books, then 350 with local residents
Island AngelsAmy Zambrano & the Key Biscayne community · 150+, 350+, then 1,700 books
The Cushman SchoolLibrary donations, 1,100 books in August, and the Human Rights Club connection to Kristi House
Aventura Branch Library130+ Spanish-language and children’s books
The Children’s Trust200 books through the Books for Free Program
Barnes & NobleCommitted to donating books during our spring Miami Shores drive
📦 Book drive hosts & collaborators
Holiday of Miracles Boat ParadeMiami Shores · Dec 6, 2025
Miami Shores Community CenterSpring 2026 drive and our fall 2026 drive location
Scott Rakow Youth CenterMiami Beach · Summer 2026 drive
One SMILE at a TIMEStudent-led club at The Cushman School that partners with Special Olympics Florida · Fall 2026 drive
🏫 Where the books went
Belafonte TACOLCY CenterLiberty City
Camillus House
Bookleggers Library
Legion Park Community Center
Kristi House
Miami Bridge Youth Services
Williams Park · Gibson Park · Morningside ParkMini-libraries
Exceptional Education Outreach (EEO)Eleuthera, The Bahamas
In the press
As seen in print and online.
We’re honored that local magazines and our school community have shared our mission. Thank you to Sunja Leon for writing about our work. Ella has also presented Miami Book Bridge on stage at SAMx.
Magazine feature · July 2026“Books Without Borders”
By Sunja Leon, Owner of Impact Partners Nonprofit Consulting Group
Published in Upper Eastside Living (July 2026, pp. 20–21) and Miami Shores Living (July 2026, pp. 40–41).
“At just 16 years old, Ella Brandt, a student at The Cushman School, is proving that meaningful change has no age requirement.”
“Literacy is about opportunity, confidence, and feeling supported.”Ella Brandt, quoted in the article
“Miami Book Bridge: How One of Our Students Is Transforming Literacy Access Across Miami”
Ella’s first-person account on the school blog of building Miami Book Bridge through The Cushman School’s Society and Me (SAM) programming: book drives, park mini-libraries, and the partnership with EEO Bahamas.
We’re partnering with One SMILE at a TIME, a student-led club at The Cushman School that partners with Special Olympics Florida, to collect gently used children’s and young adult books to share locally. We’re also working with One SMILE at a TIME to send National Geographic Kids readers to children in Africa (destination partner to be announced) in December.
Dates
October 17 – December 12, 2026
Books for children in Africa
December 2026
Drop-off location
C. Lawton McCall Community Center (Miami Shores Community Center) 9617 Park Drive, Miami Shores, FL 33138
What we accept
Gently used children’s and young adult books
National Geographic Kids readers, available through our Amazon Wishlist
When you drop off a book, you make community collaborations like these possible.
📦
Donate books
Bring new or gently used children’s and young adult books to our fall drive (Oct 17 – Dec 12, 2026). Have a big stack? We can arrange a porch pickup or drop-off. Children’s bookshelves are welcome too.
Are you an organization that would love a mini-library installed, or do you need books to fill the shelves of an existing library? We’d love to partner with you.
48 photos from our drives, deliveries, and new shelves, oldest to newest. Tap a photo to see it larger, and use the arrow keys to browse.
1,500 donated books delivered and sorted with the team at Camillus House.The Camillus House library, shelves filled with donated books.500+ books rounded up by Brockway Memorial Library.150+ books and 6 games picked up from Island Angels.130+ Spanish-language and children’s books from Aventura Branch Library.Our big red box, ready for the Holiday of Miracles Boat Parade book drive.200 books from The Children’s Trust Books for Free Program.Boat Parade night in Miami Shores: books collected by the bay.First donation of 2026: 50 gently used books.Carrying 700+ books into the Camillus House library.The volunteer team that unloaded and set up the Camillus House delivery.Shelving new arrivals at Camillus House.58 books and a bookshelf for a new community-center library.Ella with the new Williams Park mini-library and its 150+ children’s books.Mini-library at Williams Park: a bookshelf and 150+ children’s books.Gibson Park mini-library: 150+ children’s books, free to take home.350 books donated in one week by Miami Shores residents and Brockway Library.Brockway Memorial Library in Miami Shores, a donor from day one.The Miami Shores Community Center book drive is open.Porch pickup: 350+ books from Island Angels.Halfway through the drive and the box is already overflowing.Setting up the Morningside Park mini-library.Mini-library at Morningside Park: 150 books where after-school programs meet.300 young adult books headed to Miami Bridge Youth Services.Reorganizing the Miami Bridge library around a new-arrivals shelf.700 books: a wrap on the Miami Shores Community Center drive.Hauling the last of the Miami Shores drive donations.Presenting Miami Book Bridge on stage at SAMx.350 books for kids and teens at Kristi House.Setting up the shelves at Kristi House.800 children’s books packed for Eleuthera, The Bahamas.Boxes bound for EEO’s resource-room libraries.All 800 books landed at EEO in Eleuthera.Summer-school kids at EEO unboxing the delivery and picking out new favorites.Scott Rakow Youth Center, Miami Beach: home of our summer drive.“The Journey Matters Too”: getting the shipment on its way. Photo courtesy EEO Bahamas.Three weeks in: 500 books from the Scott Rakow drop box.1,700 books: our biggest pickup, from Island Angels and Key Biscayne.Loading the Key Biscayne pickup.950 more books with The Cushman School library: 2,650 in two days.Emptying the red bin as the 1,800-book summer collection wraps.Fall kickoff: setting up 500 books at Legion Park Community Center.Legion Park’s after-school library, fully stocked.1,000 books dropped off at Bookleggers Library, a free bookstore in Miami.Arriving at the Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Liberty City.Stocking 2,400+ books in the new TACOLCY library.Our 4th official mini-library, in the TACOLCY welcome area.The team in front of the new TACOLCY library.
Contact
Have books? Want to help?
Reach out about donations, porch pickups, partnerships, or mini-library requests. Email us or send a message on Instagram.
